Walsall Council to contract with downgraded housing provider

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 06:08 · Archive

Walsall Council will vote to award a £1.4million contract to GreenSquareAccord, recently downgraded by regulators for governance failures.

Walsall Council's cabinet will meet on Wednesday, 28 October to vote on awarding a contract worth up to £1.4million to GreenSquareAccord. The agreement is part of the council's domestic abuse service and will provide emergency short-term accommodation for individuals and families escaping abuse. Since January 2023, more than 104 people have accessed the service, which includes an eight-unit refuge and 19 dispersed units across the borough.

Earlier this month, GreenSquareAccord was downgraded by the Regulator of Social Housing for 'serious weaknesses in its financial governance and failures to meet targets'. Jonathan Walters, chief executive of the regulator, said: 'Our investigation has found a continued failure to address previously identified weaknesses in governance. This is unacceptable.'

Walsall Council said it had given 'careful consideration' to whether GreenSquareAccord would be an appropriate provider but was 'satisfied' that there were no relevant issues. The council stated that the regulator's findings did not relate specifically to its domestic abuse service delivery, though they did increase the importance of strengthened contractual oversight. The proposed contract runs for an initial two years at £350,000 per year, with scope for a further two-year extension. If approved, it will commence in January 2027.

How it is being reported

• Walsall Council to enter contract with ‘failing’ housing providerGreenSquareAccord was downgraded earlier this month by the social housing watchdogBirminghamLive · 23 Oct, 05:23
• Walsall Council to enter contract with ‘failing’ housing providerReform bosses will meet on Wednesday, October 28, to vote on awarding a contract to GreenSquareAccord worth up to £1.4million.Express & Star · 22 Oct, 13:28

In this story: Walsall Council · GreenSquareAccord · Regulator of Social Housing · Jonathan Walters · Walsall

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