In May 2001 we were reporting:
Improvements in the construction and quality of affordable housing will be demanded under a new policy being drafted by Scottish Homes. In the future, the Agency will expect registered social landlords (RSLs) to insist on even higher standards of performance from the construction industry...
The Social Security Fraud Bill received Royal Assent, bringing in new powers to investigate benefit cheats and withdraw benefits from persistent fraudsters. The main measures in the new Act include powers to withdraw or reduce benefit for people convicted twice of a benefit offence within the space of three years...
Welsh Assembly Minister for Finance, Local Government and Communities Edwina Hart visited a pioneering project in Swansea, aimed at helping homeless youngsters achieve their potential in society. The Swansea Foyer project - the first of its kind in Wales - offers affordable accommodation, personal development support and access to training and employment for vulnerable young people aged between 16 to 25...
Housing Minister Nick Raynsford announced details of a new Unit dedicated to reducing the numbers of homeless families living in temporary Bed and Breakfast accommodation. The Unit will provide advice and support to councils and work with them to avoid the use of Bed and Breakfast accommodation wherever possible. The new Bed and Breakfast Unit will also have a brief to influence wider debate and ensure that people working on regeneration and other related projects take into account the impact of their work on homelessness...
The National Assembly's Local Government and Housing Committee published the report of its review of housing stock transfer. The review has considered the Cabinet's policy on the transfer of council housing into community ownership and whether there are alternative approaches which could generate the necessary finance. The Committee has come to the conclusion that the most straightforward option would be a change in the local government finance system to allow local authorities to borrow on the same terms as housing associations...
An award-winning sustainable housing project was opened in Edinburgh. The £3.7 million development by Link HA, which includes 64 new homes for rent and shared ownership, is just half a mile from the site of the new Scottish Parliament building. The new homes have all been designed to cause the least possible damage to the environment, both in their construction and throughout their 100-year life span...
In May 2005 we were reporting:
Writing in the Guardian, a local government advisor for the Empty Homes Agency criticised a report which called for homes with high emissions to be demolished. In response to the report by Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute, he highlighted the large amounts of emissions that house building itself produces, due to the problem of "embodied energy"...
Several councils were reported to be introducing a local connection rule, which would effectively force supported housing providers to bar some rough sleepers from night shelters. Fears that Supported People budgets will be under pressure have led to rules being introduced in some areas that restrict access to night shelters if a strong local connection cannot be shown...
May saw the introduction of the need for anyone clamping, towing away or blocking vehicles on private land for a fee to be licensed to do so by the Security Industry Authority (SIA). They must wear their licence at all times when on duty. Licensing is designed to protect the public by raising professional standards among those properly responsible for vehicle immobilising and preventing criminal actions...
East Renfrewshire Council became the second Scottish local authority to apply for pressurised area status, which would allow it to suspend the Right to Buy (RTB). The Scottish Executive has been requested to class four areas of the district as pressurised, which removes the RTB from tenants who signed tenancy agreements after September 2002...
Key ministerial changes affecting housing included John Prescott remaining at the helm at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister but taking on the added role of representing the UK on diplomatic business abroad. Yvette Cooper was promoted from her previous role as Junior Housing Minister to Minister of State for Housing and Planning...
Chile's President Ricardo Lagos announced in a television broadcast that his government will cancel thousands of poor families' housing debts. He appeared on television to promote a new social policy that, by the end of 2005, will free 30% of those who owe money to the Urban and Housing Service (SERVIU) of their debts...
