Skip to main content
Facilitate Magazine: Informing Workplace and Facilities Management Professionals - return to the homepage Facilitate magazine logo
  • Search
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @Facilitate_Mag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management Logo of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
    • Comment
    • People
    • Reports
    • Research
  • Features
    • Analysis
    • Features
    • Round Tables
    • Webinars
  • Outsourcing
    • Contract Finder
    • Contracts
    • FM Business Models
    • Interviews
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Opinion
    • Procurement
    • Trends
  • Know-How
    • Explainers
    • Legal Updates
    • White Papers
  • Jobs
  • Topics
    • Workplace Services
      • Hospitality
      • Catering
      • Cleaning
      • Front of House
      • Grounds Maintenance
      • Helpdesk
      • Mailroom
      • Manned Guarding / Security
      • Pest Control
      • Washroom Services
      • Disaster Recovery
      • Specialist Services
    • Professional Performance
      • Behavioural Change
      • Continual Professional Development
      • Education
      • Management
      • Recruitment
      • Training
    • Workplace Performance
      • Benchmarking
      • Health & Wellbeing
      • Operational Readiness
      • Procurement
      • Security
      • Workplace User Experience
      • Workplace Culture
    • Compliance
      • Health & Safety
      • Risk & Business Continuity
      • Standards
      • Statutory Compliance
    • Building Services
      • Architecture & Construction
      • Asset Management
      • Building Controls
      • Building Fabric
      • Drinking Water
      • Fire Protection
      • HVAC
      • Landscaping
      • Mechanical & Electrical
      • Building Security
      • Water, Drainage & Plumbing
    • Technology
      • Building Information Modelling
      • CAFM
      • Data & Networks
      • Document Management
      • Information Management
      • Internet of Things (IoT)
      • Software & Systems
    • Energy management
      • Energy Management Systems
      • Electricity
      • Gas
      • Solar
      • Wind
    • Sustainability
      • Environmental Quality
      • Social Value
      • Waste Management
      • Recycling
    • Workspace Design
      • Agile Working
      • Fit-Out & Refurbishment
      • Inclusive Access
      • Lighting
      • Office Interiors
      • Signage
      • Space Planning
      • Storage
      • Vehicle Management / Parking
      • Washroom
    • Sectors
      • Corporate Office
      • Education
      • Healthcare
      • Manufacturing
      • International
      • Retail
      • Sports & Leisure
      • Regions
  • Buyers' Guide
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Topics
News
Home
Workplace services
Workplace Performance
Sustainability
Sectors
Management
Public Sector
Cleaning
Energy management
Environmental Quality
Waste management
Information Management
Topics
News
Home
Workplace services
Workplace Performance
Sustainability
Sectors
Management
Public Sector
Cleaning
Energy management
Environmental Quality
Waste management
Information Management

Brent Council votes to bring cleaning back in-house

Open-access content Tuesday 15th January 2019
Brent Civic Centre

15 January 2019 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal

 

Brent Council has agreed to bring the London's borough's cleaning  back in-house.

 

In a vote, the council's cabinet agreed that the services would be once again carried out by Brent Council employees, with tenants and leaseholders "getting more control over the service they pay for".

 

The cabinet had already approved a report recommending that the service should devolve to the council.

 

Wettons Cleaning Services Limited currently cleans housing estates across the borough, but the report recommended that a good-quality cleaning service, "which is more responsive to residents' needs, could be delivered directly by Brent Council".

 

Wettons was awarded the contract in 2013 by Brent Housing Partnership and was responsible for the maintenance of the internal and external communal areas of blocks of flats managed by the council. A service review revealed that the quality of service, including the responsiveness to complaints and the joint working with other contractors, is poor  - leading to low resident satisfaction.

 

Now that the cabinet has decided to bring the service back in-house this means the council "has committed to giving tenants and leaseholders an active say, through a consultation, into how the service should evolve".

 

Councillor Eleanor Southwood, cabinet member for housing and welfare reform, said: "Council tenants and leaseholders have been telling us for some time that the current cleaning arrangements aren't working and this is a great opportunity to do something about that. I know how important it is for people to feel happy with where they live, and the cleanliness of our blocks is a huge part of this."

 

After Brent Housing Management services was brought in-house in October 2016, improving the estate cleaning service became a priority. A number of steps were taken to improve the service and this resulted in an increase in resident satisfaction - up from 58 per cent to 68 per cent in a year.

 

But although some improvements have been made, it was being recommended that, in order to achieve "the desired levels of quality and resident satisfaction, the service should be brought in-house".

 

This would allow estate cleaning to be fully integrated with other housing management services while giving the council, tenants and leaseholders greater control.

 

Workers union GMB has welcomed the decision.

 

Krissy O'Hagan, GMB regional officer, said: "For years, our members have had to put up with minimum wage and poor working conditions under this private contractor, they can now look forward to decent pay and working conditions. Brent Council did the right thing."

 

You might also like...

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Today's top reads

 

Latest Jobs

Technical Facilities Manager/Maintenance Manager

Bristol (City Centre)
GBP40000 - GBP50000 per annum + benefits, pension, discounts
Reference
55689

Facilities Manager (Investment Management)

London (Central), London (Greater)
£Excellent + Fantastic Benefits & Opportunities
Reference
55687

Senior Maintenance Technician

London (Central)
£32,676 - £37,297 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance - plus 5% on call allowance + 20%
Reference
55686
See all jobs »

 

 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to print

Sign up to receive our bi-monthly magazine

Subscribe
Facilitate magazine cover, June 2020
​
FOLLOW US
@Facilitate_Mag
Facilitate Magazine
Facilitate Magazine
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel: 020 7880 6200
​

IWFM

About IWFM
Become a member
Qualifications
Events

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to Facilitate Magazine
Write for Facilitate Magazine

General

IWFM Jobs
Help

www.facilitatemagazine.com and Facilitate magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive, Level 5, 78 Chamber Street, London, E1 8BL