[KF] The London Borough of Hillingdon announced that it is to be the first local authority in the country to return housing management to the council from its arms length management organisation (ALMO), Hillingdon Homes.
The decision was made at a Cabinet meeting where councillors considered a report including the results of a consultation with council housing tenants and leaseholders.
An independent test of opinion with residents was run at the end of last year. From a postal survey, of which there were 1,249 responses, 942 were in favour of returning housing management to the Council. Only 44 were opposed and 251 indicated that they did not mind either way. There were 12 not stated.
A random telephone survey, which was statistically representative of all tenants and leaseholders, managed to contact 1,300 residents of whom 610 were in favour of returning to the Council, only 57 were opposed and 582 did not mind either way.
Hillingdon Homes was set up in 2003 to manage the Council's tenancies. It has delivered good service performance (two star) and high tenant satisfaction.
A substantial stock investment programme has secured the Decent Homes standard, utilising £60 million government funding. Now this programme is complete, Hillingdon Council has been looking at the best way of further improving services for residents as well as where money can be saved.
For tenants and leaseholders there will be no change in ownership - the Council will set the rents in line with Government guidelines and arrange repairs and consult with residents about housing services.
Savings from support service costs and governance will be used to enhance services. On return, the Council will be working to make more efficiencies in the future and improve linkages to other Council services.
The council believes that it would be best for tenants and the service to secure an early return to the Council and is discussing this with Hillingdon Homes, whose Board will meet in early March to consider this.
All Hillingdon Homes staff will move to the Council and retain their current terms and conditions. It is expected that post-return, support services will be integrated with those already at the Council.
Hillingdon to Take Stock Back from ALMO
