In February 2000 we were reporting:
In February 2004 we were reporting:
Camden Council became the first local authority to receive an Audit Commission three-star (excellent) inspection rating and then lose an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) ballot. Its tenants rejected plans for an ALMO with a 77% vote against, on a turnout of 30%. The Council cannot go ahead with the ALMO, and tenants are unlikely to support the option of stock transfer.
As Camden is already using the private finance initiative, under current Government rules it is likely to be faced with raising the £283 million needed to bring its 33,000 homes up to the Decent Homes Standard by 2010. It is this sort of situation that some experts think might force a review of housing investment policy and allow local authorities to invest in their own stock without taking the option of stock transfer, setting up an ALMO, or using the private finance initiative routes...
Glasgow Sheriff Court started setting aside two days each week, instead of the usual one, to deal with the increasing number of rent arrears cases being brought by Glasgow Housing Association. The Association is pursuing more than 7,000 potential rent arrears cases and recently revealed that its rent arrears have topped £12.1 million, which is nearly 5% of its total rental income. A high percentage of the arrears were inherited from the Glasgow Council when its 85,000 homes were transferred in March 2003.
The Association were also reported to be facing legal challenges from a number of tenants evicted on proceedings initiated by the Council prior to the stock transfer date…
Places for People Group joined a small group of associations by announcing that it would be introducing payment for board members. The move is part of its efforts to improve governance arrangements. The Group was placed under Housing Corporation supervision five months ago because of concerns about governance.
Salary levels proposed by the Group are £20,000 to its Chair, £16,000 to the Deputy Chair, and £12,000 to each of its seven non-executive board members…
The Government announced a £1.8 billion Supporting People allocation for 2004/05, which will fund housing related support services for over one million vulnerable people. The programme provides an estimated 250,000 units of housing support, compared to around 100,000 units three years ago.
The Government also published the Independent Review of the Supporting People Programme. On the basis of the review's findings, councils will be expected to make efficiency savings of up to 2.5% in 2004/05 in order to improve value for money…