Good performance but curb costs, housing trust told

A CHESHIRE housing association has been praised by the Audit Commission but tackled on its “relatively high” management costs.

In an inspection report the commission said Macclesfield-based Cheshire Peaks and Plains Housing Trust delivered good quality services.

It manages an estate of some 5,000 properties that were transferred from Macclesfield Borough Council in 2006. It employs 184 staff and has a turnover of £19.8m.

The regulator said the trust had a “range of strengths” including a strong ethos of customer care and a good range of tenancy support services.

But it said there was room for improvement. Performance on repairs is not yet “consistently good” said the commission which also criticised management costs.

Costs fell by 7.5% in 2008-09 to £574 per unit but the commission said this was still above average.

“Because high costs are not justified on the basis of exceptional performance,” said the report, “they indicate that the trust cannot yet demonstrate that it is delivering VFM [value for money] for customers.”

In a statement Cheshire Peaks chief executive Tim Pinder said: “I am absolutely delighted with this report, which means that Cheshire Peaks & Plains has been recognised as one of the highest performing housing associations in the region.

“We are committed to continue to improve in the future. I would like to thank our staff, board members, involved tenants, partners and of course our customers for helping to make the trust such a success.”