The Housing Corporation published a good practice note on partnership working, detailing changes in the legal status for housing associations in terms of local Crime and Disorder Partnerships (CDRPs). The change in legal status means that housing associations now have an enhanced duty to work alongside CDRPs to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour in their communities.
To reinforce the important role of housing providers, the Home Office is implementing changes to the status of housing associations in relation to these local partnerships. Housing associations will now be elevated from Tier 3 status (invited to participate in a CDRP), to Tier 2 status (Duty to Co-operate).
It is hoped this change will lead to more consistent practices across the country. As co-operating bodies, associations will be placed at the heart of decision making and delivery and have the potential to strengthen information sharing, and to use their voices in deciding local priorities around crime and disorder.
The guidance has been produced to assist associations in working more closely with their local partners to tackle antisocial behaviour and promote Respect in their neighbourhoods. As well as detailing the imminent change to the status of housing associations in relation to CDRPs from summer 2007, it contains advice on how to work more closely with local CDRPs.
The good practice note is available on the Housing Corporation website: www.housingcorp.gov.uk.
The total list of housing associations to have successfully bid for funds for the pilot Social HomeBuy scheme following the autumn 2006 bidding round was published.
78 housing associations are offering more than 2,000 opportunities for social tenant households to gain their first foot on the housing ladder.
Director of Programmes for the Housing Corporation, Richard Hill, said:
"Nearly 80 housing associations are now piloting Social HomeBuy, offering a substantial opportunity for the sector to test out how best to open up this opportunity to meet the aspirations of social tenants.
"This scheme provides an important contribution to meeting the Hills recommendation on widening the opportunities for those in social housing."
The 78 housing associations are as follows: Accent Group, Accord HA, Acton, Adactus HG, Aldwyck, AmicusHorizon, Arena HG, Bentilee Community Housing, Bromford, Broomleigh HA, Catalyst, CDS, Circle Anglia, Community HA, Contour Homes, Cosmopolitan, Devon & Cornwall HA, Dominion Housing Group, Downland HA, East Midlands Housing, East Thames, Estuary HA, Evesham & Pershore, Family Mosaic, Festival HG, Gallions HA, Genesis, Gloucestershire HA, Greater Hornby, Guinness Trust, Helena HA, Hexagon HA, Hightown Praetorian & Churches HA, Home Group, Housing Hartlepool, Islington & Shoreditch HA, James Butcher HA, Joseph Rowtree Foundation, Knightstone HA, Knowsley HT, London & Quadrant, Manchester Methodist, Mercian, Metropolitan Housing Partnership, Midland Heart HA, Moat, Mosaic HA, Nene HS, Newlon HT, Notting Hill, Oxford Citizens HA, Peabody Trust, Places for People, Presentation HA, Regenda Group, Ridings HA, Riverside, Sanctuary Housing, Sentinel HA, Servite Houses, Somer Community HT, South Anglia Housing, South Wight HA, Southern HG, Sovereign, Swaythling HS, Testway Housing, Thames Valley Housing, Three Rivers HA, Threshold Housing, Town & Country HG, Wandle HA, West Mercia HG, Western Challenge, Wherry HA, Whitefriars HG, William Sutton HA, Wrekin HT.
Communities and Local Government Minister Angela Smith visited Gallions Housing Association's Ecopark to view low-carbon affordable housing.
Located in Thamesmead, Ecopark is an affordable housing scheme of 39 houses for rent as social housing. This includes two, three and four bedroom houses designed specifically to reduce energy and water consumption. Running costs for residents living in these homes is therefore less than average.
The houses are not the only eco-friendly measures in this scheme; they have been built on brownfield land and the development of the land in and around the Ecopark has been designed to include the drainage of rainwater into a network of canals containing reeds and other water plants.
A total of £19,753 was awarded to community groups across Mendip in the last round of grant funding for this financial year from Mendip Housing's Community Chest fund.
As a result, Mendip Community Transport now has £1,200 for its dial-a-car scheme. The Foxview Group will use its £3,184 grant to fund weekly social drop-in sessions for older people with mental health issues.
The West Mendip Opportunity Group benefited from £5,000 to fund nursery sessions for children with learning and physical difficulties. Mean Feet Dance was granted £2,900 to put on a showcase dance event.
Young People Frome will put their £2,469 grant towards producing an information booklet to be given to Frome families. Blue Wren received a total of £5,000 towards two programmes offering alternative therapies to older people and drug users to help improve general health.
Mendip Housing has up to £50,000 for local groups to bid for every year and in the financial year 2006/2007 has funded 19 projects across Mendip.
Funding is not restricted to projects that just benefit Mendip Housing residents, and applications are welcome from groups within the Mendip area.
