Temporary accommodation a 'high-risk' area for RBWM finances

The Royal Borough’s internal audit report has warned temporary accommodation remains a ‘high-risk’ area for the council.

On Monday (September 8), the Royal Borough’s audit and governance committee heard an update about the council’s internal audit report for the first quarter of the 2025-2026 financial year.

An internal audit report breaks down a local authority’s risk management and governance over its services.

The Royal Borough’s report showed 36 outstanding actions from previous years.

Speaking at the meeting, Alaistair Woodland, the assistant director of internal auditors SWAP, said the ‘promptness’ on completing these management actions is not ‘quick enough’.

The main areas of concern, which were rated as ‘high risk’, were temporary accommodation and governance and oversight of Optalis, the adult social care provider it owns alongside Wokingham Borough Council.

Temporary accommodation is also addressed in the Royal Borough’s Housing Strategy 2021-2026.

But Mr Woodland said: “We couldn’t find any evidence that [the housing strategy] has been reviewed since its inception.”

Since the internal audit report was finalised, a temporary accommodation strategy for Windsor and Maidenhead has been approved, but councillors were still concerned.

Ian O’Donnell, the interim executive director of resources, said: “We are facing quite a big problem with homelessness.

“When we receive an application from somebody, we have a statutory responsibility that we have to fulfil and that includes a potential duty to house them.

“We do that by means of putting them in accommodation which has an overnight rate and that is one of the most expensive ways in which you can house people.

“We need to manage our front door more effectively.”

He said that the issue should be addressed by intervening earlier to help people stay in their homes.

Other strategies to control homelessness levels included working with private sector landlords and housing associations.

The Royal Borough will also need to purchase more properties that can be used for social housing, Mr O’Donnell said.

Councillor Neil Knowles (Ind, Old Windsor) agreed that more housing needs to be bought.

He said: “[The] current problem seems to be single people finding accommodation around here.  I commend any move to get more housing stock whether it’s owning or long-term leasing.”

Cllr Gurch Singh (Lib Dem, St Mary’s) agreed and said the progress when it comes to temporary accommodation should be monitored more closely.

Cllr Singh said: “I’m worried about the temporary accommodation and the pressure that is having on the council and its finances.

“I know that there is a strategy that’s been put in place, but I think there are issues within the housing department in the borough. There are serious issues – with regards to this strategy – the plan, the delivery mechanism.

“I think all of that needs to be carefully managed. At the moment, to me, it looks like it’s out of control.”

Mr O’Donnell said there is a ‘detailed plan’ on how the temporary accommodation strategy will be implemented but the committee had not seen this at the time of the meeting.