Conservative leader's column: the tragic and needless death of a child

John Taylor is the leader of the local Conservative party in Rochdale and a councillor for Wardle and West Littleborough.

This month he dedicates his column to discuss the tragic death of Awaab Ishak.

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Once more our borough has made national headlines for all the wrong reasons, and this time it involves the tragic and needless death of a child.

I make no excuse for dedicating my entire column to the shocking circumstances surrounding the death of Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old toddler whose life has been snatched away from him. 
 

Read more: Prolonged exposure to mould in RBH flat led to death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, inquest concludesPublished: 15 November 2022

It is beyond belief how in the year 2020 Rochdale Borough Housing (RBH) allowed this to happen in one of their properties – or at least it should be beyond belief.

Unfortunately, it isn’t and having studied the catalogue of errors and missed opportunities for intervention, it is blatantly obvious how the leadership at RBH has been asleep at the wheel.

Awaab and his family deserved a far better service than they received and it certainly raises questions in my mind about the professionalism and culture within RBH.

Having seen the internal images from their flat on Freehold it is blatantly obvious how remedial action was needed as a matter of some urgency.

New legislation may be enacted but surely decent and well lead housing providers ought to deliver an acceptable service as a matter of course.

I see no evidence of RBH taking the complaints of Awaab’s parents seriously and of them putting their customer first, in fact there appears to have been a total disregard for their tenants and an unwillingness to address the long standing issues of damp and mould.

It would appear RBH were not even aware a child was living at the address – how on earth can a landlord not know who is living in one of their homes, especially when Mr. Abdullah’s complaints had prompted visits to his address on numerous occasions.

I suspect it was the lack of positive action that led to Awaab’s parents feeling discriminated against and their perceptions will have been their reality.

Despite loud and clear calls for the chief executive Gareth Swarbrick to resign his obvious reluctance to do so was concerning to say the least. It was alarming how he had the full backing of the board and it took the Secretary of State Right Honorable MP Michael Gove to intervene before he was eventually sacked.
 

Read more: Gareth Swarbrick sacked by RBH board in u-turn after previously backing the chief exec to stay in positionPublished: 20 November 2022

That 'backing' from the board was in my view worryingly significant and illustrates a comprehensive lack of understanding of the situation. This doesn’t bode well and leaves me with the impression the board expected business as usual to resume. How can the residents of our borough have confidence in RBH when professionalism and personal responsibility seem to be non-existent?

Together with Councillor Neil Emmott, we have jointly called for direct governmental intervention within RBH and I sincerely hope that intervention is forthcoming. I believe we stand united in condemning this appalling and totally unnecessary tragedy.
 

Read more: Calls for RBH stock to be returned to council controlPublished: 21 November 2022

Moving forward I would like to see a thorough overhaul of the organisation with a customer centred approach to service delivery. Everyone deserves to receive a decent level of service and everyone has the right to expect decent, healthy and mould free-living conditions.
 

Read more: Housing Secretary writes to all council leaders and social housing providers calling for action on housing conditionsPublished: 21 November 2022

Awaab’s parents, family and friends have to live with the loss of a loved one and no parent should be left grieving the loss of their child, especially one of such tender years. The facts surrounding this case make their loss all the more difficult to bear and I offer my sincere condolences to Awaab’s family.