Southern Housing slammed by Ombudsman – report makes 184 findings of maladministration

The Housing Ombudsman has released its special investigation report (PDF) into Southern Housing, finding a “lack of ownership within the landlord’s complaint-handling culture”. The report says the landlord’s approach during a merger did not “extend sufficiently to complaints handling and achieving a positive complaint handling culture”. In this report, the Ombudsman issued determinations on 77 cases, making …

New ‘selective licensing’ property scheme set to get the go-ahead in Lambeth

Proposals to turn four council wards in Lambeth into a new 'Selective Licensing' area for housing are set to be approved by the council's cabinet tonight (Thursday). The four wards - Knights Hill, Streatham Common and Vale, Streatham Hill East, and Streatham St Leonards - will become a designated areas for a five-year period from  from …

New regulations on vehicles… New patients choices for routine treatment outside of hospitals… and how a spoon helped identify one of two Great War soldiers

Vehicle regulations A new strategy outlines the government's approach to regulating cars, vans, motorcycles and other vehicles sold in the UK. The strategy includes: Updating Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 to permit the fitting of camera monitor systems and to ensure that sideguards remain fitted to heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) throughout their life: …

Community: Who’s been on the Grape and Grain roof? Not us, say Wetherspoons…. Brockwell Park tree felling – updated statement from Lambeth council… Southwark and Croydon celebrate Foster Care Fortnight… Westbury estate shooting – man arrested

Ridge tiles have been removed from the roof od the one-storey building at the Grape and Grain pub at the top of Anerley Hill. Some tiles have been neatly stacked at one end of the roof. But the owners - pub chain Wetherspoons - say it's not them. A Wetherspoon's spokesman told News From Crystal …

More life-saving antidotes to be provided to professionals, carers, family members and friends to help save victims of opioid overdoses. And for those who have already saved lives elsewhere: Civilian Gallantry List recipients named

Expansion of life-saving opioid overdose treatment New 10-year plan to expand and improve the drug and alcohol workforce published More professionals such as nurses, paramedics, police officers and probation workers will be able to supply a life-saving opioid overdose antidote without a prescription to save the lives of the most vulnerable, the government has announced. …

New laws will allow councils to take control of empty shops… UK tell China’s ambassador “the issuing of bounties is not acceptable”… Satellite instruments to monitor climate…

New powers for communities to regenerate high streets and fill empty shops will be in force by the summer, the government has announced today. High Street Rental Auctions, a new local authority power to combat high street vacancy, will allow local leaders who know their area best to take control of empty properties blighting their …

Council news: £3.7 million Lottery funding for East Lodge project at Nunhead Cemetery… Rogue roofing traders get suspended prison sentences… …and another warning on getting your driveway cleaned or repaired… Lambeth to “make homes more energy efficient” in three areas of borough with Government money…

Southwark council and the Friends of Nunhead Cemetery (FONC) have been awarded a £3.7 million grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver the Nunhead Cemetery East Lodge: From Ruin to Revival project. The Grade II Listed East Lodge is currently on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register. The project, which had received initial …

Community: Detectives thank Lambeth community and appeal for more witnesses to fatal Westbury estate shooting as victim is named

“If you don’t want to speak to police, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously. "Some people have already done that. "I don’t know who they are, but I have their information and I thank them.” - police chief ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Detectives continue to appeal for information and witnesses after a man was fatally shot …

Blocked-off roads: Non-publication of air quality figures report was “an oversight” Lambeth council admit – and changed figures in the SAME document were due to an “administrative error”

The non-publication of an air quality figures report was "an oversight", Lambeth council have admitted in response to a Freedom of Information request released today (Monday) And changed figures in the council's 2022 air quality report - which showed much of the 2021 AQ findings data have been replaced with different (lower) readings - were …

Three charged with offences under the National Security Act… Pharmacies changes planned… Government-funded childcare for nine-months-olds…

Three people have been charged with offences under the National Security Act as part of an investigation led by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command with support from colleagues in Counter Terrorism Policing in the North East and South East. From the Met: The three men have each been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence …