COUNCILLORS are to hear about progress in making Flintshire council homes compliant with Welsh Government quality standards.

A report on the Councils Welsh Housing Quality Standard will be submitted to the Councils Community Housing and Assets Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The committee will be asked to support the Capital Investment Programme in its final year of major investment, when it meets on Wednesday, March 10.

The Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) is a national standard for public sector homes in Wales, as set out by the Welsh Government, to ensure that all tenants in Wales live in good quality homes which meet the requirements of each household.

The programme was due to end by December 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Welsh Government extended the deadline to December 2021.

This extension is to be reviewed again based on the impacts of ongoing COVID-19 situation.

To date, from Flintshire Council's 7,300 Housing Stock, it is currently reporting 100 per cent of kitchens and bathrooms are WHQS compliant.

Its WHQS customer satisfaction is 96 per cent. The council said 87 per cent of roofing and associated components, and 92 per cent of windows and doors are compliant.

The report will also set out the council's journey in delivering this extensive programme of refurbishment over the life of the WHQS, which has not only delivered home improvements but through the contractors created employment opportunities within local communities and provided training and employment for 57 apprentices.

Councillor Dave Hughes, Flintshire Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “All kitchens and bathrooms have now been completed – except for the 'acceptable fails.'

"These are either tenant refusals or no access which, according to Welsh Government, are classed as compliant in terms of achieving WHQS.

"These properties will be addressed in the future.

“During the work we have ensured that measures are in place so that our tenants, officers and contractors are safe.

"Welsh Government has indicated that they are reassured with the plans we currently have in place and the works we are currently delivering.”