12 March 2004
Bath and North East Somerset Council has rejected criticisms that its 1999 stock housing transfer was littered with 'inappropriate and unlawful' actions this week.
The council responded bitterly to a public interest report from district auditor Richard Lott, stating that it fundamentally disagreed with the majority of his findings.
The report, published on March 10, is the final round in a number of investigations into the transfer of 10,000 of Bath's homes to Somer Community Housing Trust five years ago.
Lott revealed a number of 'unlawful' actions, notably a poor balance in the council's publicity material for tenants, which he said, amounted, in one case, to 'scaremongering'.
He added: 'In my view, not only was the publicity material in question persuasion rather than information, it was published with that intention in mind.'
Bath's officers were also criticised, with their 'enthusiasm' for transfer apparently getting in the way of them acting reasonably and lawfully.
The report also castigated the council for issuing confusing information on which future repairs would incur rent increases. 'If there is confusion by the council as to the promises that were made, it is difficult to see how the council can satisfy itself that Somer is delivering on those promises.'
Lott, however, said he would not be referring the council to court over an issue of 'unlawful' spending on its publicity material, as this would not be in the public interest.
Bath hit back, stating that the report was not a balanced picture of the transfer. In a statement, it said there was no evidence of over-enthusiastic officers and described Lott's comments as 'inappropriate'.
It also rejected his findings over its publicity material but did accept that some of its actions in the transfer were 'not done perfectly.'
PFmar2004
