Decision type: Key

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Notice of proposed decision first published: 25/02/2026

Reason for urgency:
Regulatory expectations for housing services have increased, at the same time as a well-documented national skills shortage in specialist local government roles, particularly building surveyors and social housing professionals. This has created a highly competitive recruitment market affecting councils nationally and making it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain skilled staff. Within this context, two members of the Housing Repairs Service management team have recently resigned and, together with an existing vacancy, all three management posts will be vacant by 5 March 2026. Previous recruitment exercises have failed to attract suitably qualified candidates, indicating that both the resignations and ongoing vacancies reflect wider national labour-market pressures. To ensure that sufficient management resource is available as timely as possible to ensure the delivery of the housing repairs service.

Decision due: 25 Feb 2026 by Leader of the Council and Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder

Lead member: Leader of the Council and Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder

Lead director: Corporate Director (Operations and Delivery)

Contact: Tim Clarke, Assistant Director (Housing and Environment) Email: trclarke@tendringdc.gov.uk.