Section: Registered Social Landlords

BME Action Plan Launched

The Housing Corporation underlined its commitment to supporting the sector in meeting the housing needs of the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities with the launch of its BME action plan 2005-08.

Setting out its vision for the next three years, the action plan outlines how the Corporation will work with housing associations and key stakeholders. It aims to ensure people from all ethnic groups have equal access to services and that they are represented at all employment levels within and across the housing sector. The action plan also aims to ensure BME communities are fairly represented on providers' governing bodies, and that suppliers, contractors, and consultants reflect the communities they work in. The 2005-2008 action plan outlines how the Corporation plans to deliver on its commitment, including:

Working in close partnership with the ODPM and other government departments and agencies, stakeholders, and local authorities to highlight the needs of BME groups and the needs of new emerging communities.
Ensuring that monitoring and definitions are kept up to date and reflect the needs and challenges facing the housing association sector.
Using its regulatory powers to act against unlawful discrimination and promote equality of opportunity.
Publishing data on housing association performance to help promote improvement in practice across the sector.
Promoting BME associations and ensuring that their role and potential is recognised and valued across the sector.

The BME action plan 2005-2008 is available on the Corporation's website at www.housingcorp.gov.uk

RSL Update

Atlantic Housing Group and Pavilion Housing Group merged to form First Wessex Housing Group.
Catalyst HG and Oxford Citizens HA formed a development partnership, which they hope will lead to them building one-third of the new affordable homes in Oxfordshire.
The Housing Corporation announced that Clays Lane Housing Co-operative has transferred its land to the Peabody Trust. This complies with a statutory direction issued by the Corporation in July 2003 and with a High Court Order obtained by the Corporation in May 2005.

The Co-operative's land, property, assets, tenants, and staff have been transferred to the Peabody Trust in accordance with the terms of the statutory direction, which was issued with the consent of the Secretary of State.

The transfer follows a prolonged period of delay, during which the Co-operative challenged the statutory direction through Judicial Review. Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal dismissed the challenge. The House of Lords refused permission for a further appeal.
Irwell Valley HA was reported to have started discussions with the Dutch association Beter Wonen Vechtdal about working together and providing some services for each other.
Keynote HG and Prime Focus set up an executive team to steer them through a merger process. Richard Clark (Group Chief Executive at Prime Focus) was appointed Shadow Chief Executive. Tom Murtha (Keynoye Group Chief Executive) takes on the role of Chief Operating Officer.
Luminus Group was shortlisted for two awards: Employer of the Year (Midlands), and East of England regional finals of the National Business Awards.
Mosaic Homes will take over the management of a 155-home estate in Islington. Tenants on the Quill Estate voted for the new lease agreements. Previously, management had been spread over four associations: ASRA Greater London, Islington & Shoreditch, Mosaic Homes, and Ujima.
Plus HG and Harvest HG were reported to be discussing a merger that would create a new organisation comprising of six associations that between them manage 24,000 homes. The two groups formed a development partnership in April and this led to merger talks soon afterwards.
Strutton HA merged with Hestia Housing & Support. The new organisation retains the Hestia name.

Housing Corporation Library Updates

Housing Association Internal Audit Programme Guide to Lettings (Revised)

This Internal Audit Programme Guide covers the area of Lettings. The importance of this area is at the foundation of the Housing Corporation's Regulatory Code and Guidance to ensure Viability, proper governance, and management in the sector.
Internal Audit Guide - Equality and Diversity

This Internal Audit Programme Guide covers the area of Equality and Diversity, a term which is increasingly being used in place of 'Equal Opportunities'.
Capital Funding Guide (July 2005)

This contains the rules and procedures for housing associations, which have received, or will receive, capital grant funding from the Housing Corporation. The Guide was last updated in April 2005.
2004 Global Accounts and Sector Analysis

The latest edition of the annual publication produced by the Housing Corporation and NHF. It contains consolidated accounts for the Housing Association sector, and financial analysis of its key sub-sectors. It is based on accounts supplied to the Corporation for periods ending between 1st April 2003 and 31st March 2004.
Complaining about a Housing Association

The Housing Corporation along with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, to explain how you can complain about a housing association and what to do if you remain dissatisfied, has produced this leaflet.
Complaining about the Housing Corporation

This booklet explains how members of the public can complain about the Housing Corporation.
Risk Management Toolkit for Supported Housing

The toolkit has been developed to help housing association providers of support or social care services to identify and manage their risks. The toolkit is in the form of a pdf file, from which individual sections can be printed.

There are also two PowerPoint presentations and a self-calculating Excel Risk management workbook.
Efficiency Briefings

These three briefings, which are in pdf format, aim to stimulate debate and disseminate good practice linked to the government's policy for improving efficiency in social housing. The first sets out guidance in relation to producing Annual Efficiency Statements. The second assesses a range of possible approaches to improving efficiency in the delivery of the Corporation's investment programme. The third considers the links between size, structure, and efficiency in the housing association sector.

The latter two are intended to stimulate thinking and debate, and do not represent Housing Corporation policy in these areas.
Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Housing Associations

The Housing Corporation and the National Housing Federation have produced this information sheet. It explains how the Freedom of Information Act 2000 relates to housing associations, what information can be requested, and where from.
Housing Corporation's Regulatory Code (Re-issue)

The Corporation re-published its Regulatory Code and Guidance, which has been established and used since 2002, as a stand-alone document.
Right First Time: How Housing Associations are Improving their Repairs & Maintenance Services

This report draws on detailed case study evidence from three housing associations, and eight supporting 'mini-case studies'. This analysis is informed by qualitative research evidence obtained in focus groups with tenants from the three associations. The report looks at different methods that associations are using to achieve tenant satisfaction with their repairs services.
Homebuy

This guide does not state all the rules of the Homebuy scheme but it does explain its main features.
Value for Grant Comparator Report

This report outlines the context, methodology, principles, and data used to create the Value for Grant Comparator. This is an internal tool designed to help assess how well different recipients use Social Housing Grant - it shows relative performance against set criteria.

Section: Registered Social Landlords

BME Action Plan Launched

RSL Update

Housing Corporation Library Updates

Housing Monthly Diary

Reporting on July/August 2005

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