Local Government Minister, Phil Woolas, announced new themes for Round Eight of the Beacon Council Scheme:
Information Note
Round Seven of the Beacon Scheme - launched by the ODPM on 5 July 2005 - will run from 2005/06.
Round Eight of the Scheme- for which themes have just been announced - will run from July 2006.
The Beacon Council Scheme was established, by the Government, in 1999, to promote and acknowledge best value authorities - centres of excellence and innovation - with a mind to disseminate their practices and policies.
The Government announced that it is consulting on raising the management and physical standards of purpose-built university accommodation for students in line with those already set down for privately rented housing, particularly through Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing. This means, irrespective of whether halls of residence are run by higher education establishments or by commercial providers, similar and adequate standards should apply.
The consultation involves three codes of management practice, covering student accommodation managed by universities, other higher education establishments, and commercial providers. Developed by Universities UK and the Accreditation Network UK, in association with Unipol Student Homes, the codes follow on from earlier substantial consultation with stakeholders whilst reflecting student and parent concerns about university managed accommodation standards.
The Housing Act 2004 allows the Government to approve codes of management practice for both properties subject to HMO licensing and those specifically exempted from licensing. It also allows the Government to exempt from HMO licensing properties managed by universities and other higher education establishments. Importantly, it is not proposed to exempt commercial providers, but it is envisaged their compliance with a code should result in reduced licensing fees.
After the consultation closes, on 6 October 2005, secondary legislation will be laid before Parliament to approve the codes and provide for exemptions from HMO licensing for accommodation managed by higher education establishments.
Speaking at the NHF Communities Conference, Minister David Miliband admitted that the Government was likely to miss the 2010 Decent Homes Target by as much as 10%. In his speech, Mr Miliband made reference to 90% of the target being the current trajectory for 2010.
In August, there were difficult questions for the Government when it was revealed that more than 25% of local authorities had missed the July deadline to have their option appraisals approved by Government.
Efforts by an ODPM spokesperson to play down the speech and make assurances that the 2010 target will be reached failed to satisfy critics.
A new report from the influential think-tank Social Market Foundation concludes that the Decent Homes Target should be either scrapped or rewritten. The report argues that the target could lead to wasteful investment in housing and calls on a reassessment by Government on whether it is still needed.
The report points to parts of the midlands and north of England, where it claims the projected medium and long-term demand for social housing makes it a wasted investment to bring the stock up to a decent standard.
The report criticises the target for not taking proper account of tenant satisfaction levels. It recommends a shift of emphasis to ensuring people live in decent homes in desirable communities.
New statistics compiled by HouseMark and the National Federation of Arms-length Management Organisations (ALMOs) show tenant satisfaction for ALMOs measured at 77%. The statistics are based on data provided by 43 arms-length management organisations in 2004/05. For the first time, this places them ahead of both local authority and housing association landlords. Other findings show that ALMOs have improved in 12 of the 13 performance areas measured. For example:
The only area showing a fall in performance was in the time taken to deal with non-urgent repairs - this rose slightly from an average of just under 11 days to just under 12 days.
The following summarises some of the key issues raised in local authority inspection reports issued by the Audit Commission during September.
Bolton at Home provides excellent three-star services that have promising prospects for improvement, according to the Audit Commission.
The arms-length management organisation was established to manage the housing service on behalf of Bolton MBC. Their services were previously inspected during June 2003 when they were rated as providing a good service. That assessment enabled Bolton to receive an initial £53 million, rising to a potential £157.6 million, to bring its homes up to the Decent Homes Standard. The inspectors found:
An Audit Commission inspection concluded that North East Derbyshire DC provides a poor zero-star repairs and maintenance service, but has excellent prospects for improvement. The report notes several areas needing attention, including:
Alnwick DC (Access to Services)
Good two-star service
with promising prospects for improvement
Bath & NE Somerset Council (Supporting People)
Good two-star service with promising prospects for improvement
Hammersmith and Fulham LBC
(Supporting People)
Good two-star service with promising prospects for improvement
Inspection reports released by the Audit Commission during September included the following.
Durham Aged Mineworkers' Homes Association provides good two-star services that have excellent prospects for improvement, according to a report released by the Audit Commission.
The report concludes that there is a clear understanding of the needs of the tenants, who have an average age of 74. The arrangements for the involvement of residents, however, needs further development, and there is a need for a more systematic approach to assessing value for money. The report highlights some key strengths, including:
The services provided by Shaftesbury HA are poor with uncertain prospects for improvement, according to a re-inspection report released by the Audit Commission. An earlier inspection had found that the Association provided a poor service and failed to demonstrate capability for improvement. This is the first time a housing association has received a second zero-star rating from the Audit Commission.
This inspection found that although a new organisational structure was in place, and new policies and procedures had been developed, Shaftesbury has delivered few clear improvements in services to residents. The report notes: