The Government announced an independent review of the regulation of social housing. Professor Martin Cave is the Director of the Centre for Management under Regulation at Warwick University; he has been asked to consider options for reform.
Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said the review would be the first independent assessment of the system of social housing regulation for thirty-two years:
"This review is a timely opportunity to look at how the regulatory system should be reformed to better support tenants, reduce burdens on social housing providers, and reflect current and future Government priorities.
"The legislative framework for the regulatory system for the social housing sector has remained in many respects unaltered since it was introduced in 1974, while the sector and wider policy environment has undergone significant change."
Professor Cave said: "It will be a wide-ranging review of regulation of social housing that will put the needs of tenants at the heart of the regulatory process. And importantly, the outcome of the review will centre on the evidence from all who have an interest in this sector."
A groundbreaking housing protocol agreement between the Housing Corporation and Local Government Association (LGA) will enable local authorities across England to give feedback on the performance of housing associations in their areas.
Housing Corporation Chairman, Peter Dixon, and the LGA Environment Board Chair, Cllr Paul Bettison, signed the agreement. The agreement sets out how the bodies will work more closely together to promote the building of new homes and strong communities throughout the country.
Peter Dixon said, "This agreement further underlines our commitment to deepening our relationship with local government. Local government has a key role to play in the delivery of affordable housing and building strong communities. This national protocol we are signing will play an important role in the delivery of more and better affordable housing in communities where people want to live today and in the future."
Cllr Paul Bettison said, "There is no question that the supply of affordable housing must be increased, but new homes do not in themselves make communities. Alongside new homes needs to come a raft of vital supporting services and a balanced approach to how new housing relates to existing villages, towns and cities. Local councils strive to create places where people can thrive, and are best placed to appreciate both of these challenges - seeing that growing communities have the infrastructure and services they need to prosper whilst ensuring that existing communities benefit from development."
The jointly developed protocol sets out a range of issues, which the Corporation and LGA have agreed to work on, including:
The Corporation has also been rolling out local pilots of the national agreement across the country with Derby City Council becoming the first authority to sign such an agreement.
The Audit Commission issued several local authority reports during December 2006, including:
Greenwich London Borough Council (Housing Allocations):
One-star fair service with uncertain prospects for improvement.
Tristar Homes (Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council ALMO):
Two-star good service with promising prospects for improvement.
West Sussex County Council (Supporting People):
One-star fair service with promising prospects for improvement.
Cumbria County Council (Supporting People):
One-star fair service with promising prospects for improvement.
Audit Commission housing association inspection reports released during December 2006 included the following:
Helena Housing Limited:
Two-star good service with promising prospects for improvement.
Dales Housing Limited:
Two-star good service with promising prospects for improvement.
(Dales Housing Limited was set up to accept the transfer of 3,200 homes from Derbyshire Dales District Council. The transfer took place on 4 March 2002, following a near 70% majority vote from tenants.)
