Letter: Name-calling Won’t Solve GBC’s Housing Maintenance Issues

Published on: 3 Aug, 2025
Updated on: 3 Aug, 2025

From Bernard Quoroll

Former local authorities CEO and “independent person” at GBC

In response to: Council Fire Doors – ‘I Will Not Rest Until Everything Is Put Right’ Says GBC Leader

Guildford’s housing management problems took many years in the making. They are clearly far from over.

A competent housing authority would have undertaken a comprehensive house condition survey decades ago, to know what repairs and upgrades were really needed. They would have introduced cyclic maintenance programmes at say four or five yearly intervals to do work economically and efficiently, whilst also carrying out day-to-day responsive repairs. (Not just guessing how many fire doors need replacing.)

Good landlords have been doing this for the last fifty years, not just pocketing rental income and sitting on it. In that way, tenants can get the service they deserve and for which they have paid, whilst asset values are maintained.

What is different in Guildford? Firstly, social housing seems to have been a poor relation since at least the turn of the century. A toxic combination of weak professional leadership, coupled with an extraordinary lack of curiosity and constructive challenge by elected people from all parties seems to have combined to create a perfect storm.

I am not sure which is worse – an uncaring administration or a weak one. Either way, the result is the same.

We still do not even know the extent of losses endured so far, or what might relate to criminality or just bad management. Nor does anyone seem interested in identifying what the true cost is, which makes promises about future transparency unconvincing. (The assertion that GBC is on the mend because they are now telling us about such service failures as they arise is not in the least reassuring).

My conclusion is that on this evidence, GBC still have a very long way to go and very little to congratulate itself for. I do hope the new management team are now addressing the task of housing management more along the lines mentioned above.

I also hope that the much talked about performance management system with detailed key performance indicators is up and running soon and being used effectively. Nothing in Guildford’s history suggests that officers or members understand that talking the talk is not the same as walking the walk.

Against that background, blame shifting between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats on the council makes both the largest parties look pathetic. They both bear responsibility for this mess and trying to apportion it is pointless, unless of course, political advantage is the only thing that matters. Guildford needs constructive leadership, not name-calling.