SENIOR officials from a housing association are set to field questions from East Dorset council leaders, months after concerns were raised about the treatment of an elderly resident.

Bosses from Aster Housing Association will attend Tuesday's scrutiny committee meeting at Allendale Community Centre in Wimborne.

Members will have the opportunity to ask questions around the service delivery and provision provided by Aster Housing.

Councillor Simon Gibson, cabinet member for housing, will open the discussion before Aster Housing's regional director Darren Brazil provides an overview on the service residents received.

"It has come up because the scrutiny committee's role is make sure the council is happy with service delivery," Cllr Gibson said.

"The housing associations in our area come into play, they are decision markers.

"Members were keen to meet with Aster and their people to ask about service delivery and how things are going at the moment across East Dorset."

The meeting follows a specific situation brought up by Wimborne Minster ward councillor Shane Bartlett at April's full council meeting.

Cllr Bartlett raised an issue around the treatment of an 87-year-old resident, who was in accommodation managed by Aster Housing and left without heating for more than a month during the severe weather experienced in February and March this year.

The Liberal Democrat councillor said the situation was "abhorrent, cruel and unforgivable".

At the time Cllr Gibson said the case highlighted that "the lack of accountability from housing associations is unacceptable".

Cllr Gibson told the Daily Echo this situation had been addressed and discussed with Aster since April's meeting. He added that Cllr Bartlett's concerns "triggered" the process of arranging an open public platform where the council and Aster could discuss service provision.

"As the cabinet member for housing, council officers and myself often meet with senior officers from Aster, and other housing associations, to discuss the service they deliver.

"At the scrutiny committee meeting we are not going to be discussing specific incidents because a lot of what would be raised could breach data protection regulations.

"It is an opportunity for councillors to come with overall issues, which have been brought up by residents, and raise these with Aster.

"I think doing this as a discussion in an open, transparent setting is the right way to facilitate that. Aster may come to the meeting and raise matters they are currently working on or addressing.

"I hope it will be a constructive meeting for all parties."

Mr Brazil, of Aster Group, said: “It’s important to us to continue to build strong relationships with our key stakeholders. By attending meetings like this we’re able to keep local councils informed of the key business decisions we’re making and to discuss any concerns they may have about our approach. It’s also a chance for us to discuss some of the bigger community issues which are important to our customers and to work jointly with the council to help resolve them where appropriate.”