A councillor on the Isle of Wight’s new housing committee was previously hit with warning notices over the state of a flat she rented out.
Reform UK councillor Caroline Gladwin serves on the Adult Social Care, Public Health and Housing Needs Committee, and was previously issued with three warning notices, it has emerged.
The Central Rural ward member is facing criticism from Independent Socialist councillor Geoff Brodie over the issue. Councillor Gladwin blames a previous tenant for damaging the property without her knowledge.
Damp, mould, exposed wiring and rotting timbers
The warnings related to damp and mould, rotting timbers, exposed wiring and the front door having no working lock.
Councillor Brodie said,
“Nearly one in five of all Island households are forced to live in the private, rented sector due to our desperate shortage of social rented housing and the unaffordability of home ownership for so many.
“A sector with excessive rent exploitation, poor living conditions and continuing insecurity of tenure, despite the promises of successive governments.”
He added anyone reading a report into the issues “will be horrified” over the “unpleasant conditions”.
Gladwin: Brodie’s comments were “clearly politically motivated”
However, Councillor Gladwin said she “always kept her properties in good shape” and “acted with integrity”.
Hitting back at Councillor Brodie, she said his comments were “clearly politically motivated”.
She added,
“Unfortunately, this is an example of an overzealous council that made my life a misery over matters I was unaware of due to damage being caused by a tenant who was severely mentally ill and was very difficult for me to deal with.
“Shortly after the notices were issued the tenant was rehoused and no tenant ever moved in again as I was too distraught after the treatment given to me by the council’s housing renewal officers.
“In fact, I have never wanted to seek any more tenants to this day after this treatment, and I consider that I am the victim in all of this.”
It’s understood that Councillor Gladwin currently rents out another property.
Blake:
Leader of the Conservative group Councillor Ed Blake said,
“The Adult Social Care Committee is responsible for making decisions that have a direct impact on some of the most vulnerable members of our society.
“Committee members need to make decisions with high of levels insight and compassion and, as a group, we trust the Monitoring Officer to be across all information available to them regarding competency within roles.”
Other members of the Adult Social Care, Public Health and Housing Needs Committee did not respond to individual requests for comment.
Dispensation for Gladwin from deputy monitoring officer
Councillors are required to register their interests with the council, and these are publicly available to view on the council website.
However, in the section asking, “Do you have land or property within the Isle of Wight”, the reply states “Sensitive Interest” and Councillor Gladwin has been exempted from answering further by permission of the deputy monitoring officer.
Notices in detail
The council issued three notices against Councillor Caroline Gladwin.
A hazard awareness notice (HAN) referred to ‘category two hazards’ relating to ‘damp and mould growth’, ‘food safety’, ‘personal hygiene sanitation and drainage’, according to a tribunal decision file, which is publicly available.
It says that “hazard” is defined “as ‘any risk of harm to the health or safety of an actual or potential occupier of a dwelling which arises from a deficiency in the dwelling (whether the deficiency arises as a result of the construction of any building, an absence of maintenance or repair, or otherwise)’.”
County Hall’s emergency remedial action notice (ERAN) related to a category one hazard in relation to ‘difficulties in keeping a dwelling secure against unauthorised entry and the maintenance of defensible space’.
It said the “front door to the flat has no working lock and the lower door panel is missing and covered by a ‘for sale sign’”.
The improvement notice mentioned both category one and category two hazards.
Its category one hazard was ‘excess cold’ due to deficiencies such as ‘defective and rotten timbers’ and ‘considerable masonry cracks in hall’.
The category two hazards related to ‘damaged’ external entrance steps with a ‘slippery surface’ and ‘defective guttering’ leaking onto outside steps.
They also included ‘electrical hazards’ such as a ‘broken electrical socket’ and ‘exposed wiring’ in the flat’s lounge, and those relating to ‘fire’ including there being no fire blanket in the kitchen and a broken light switch.
Tribunal upheld two notices
Following a September 2023 appeal by Councillor Gladwin against the council notices, a tribunal upheld the HAN and ERAN.
It also confirmed the improvement notice subject to wording changes relating to the 2004 Act, single glazed windows, a fire door and the timescale of remedial action.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
