Ealing Conference 15th November 2003 Martin Thomas ODPM’s Community Housing Task Force.
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Transcript of Ealing Conference 15th November 2003 Martin Thomas ODPM’s Community Housing Task Force.
Ealing Conference
15th November 2003 Martin ThomasODPM’s Community Housing Task Force
ArmsLengthManagementOrganisations
WHAT’S NEW?“For more than 30
years this country has lost its way. All governments failed to meet housing need. We did not invest in the long term”
John Prescott
Government target
•To bring all social housing into a decent condition by 2010:– 1.6 million social rented homes (42% of
the stock) were non-decent in April 2001
– A small group of mainly inner city local authorities account for nearly two- thirds (1.1 million) of the non-decent stock
WHATS NEW?
COMMUNITIES PLAN• February 2003• Vision for the Future• Decent Homes a high
priority…..• Recognise backlog of
disrepair• Improved ALMOs as a
way of getting money into Council Housing
ALMOs - key aimsDriving up housing standards by:
• investing in repairs and improvements
• improving housing management
• creating housing organisations directly controlled by a majority of council and tenant nominees
ALMOs – key features
• Tenants remain secure tenants of the Council- all rights remain- Council still sets rents and overall policy
• Board with representation of tenants, the Council and independents, normally with no group in a majority
• Ownership of stock does not transfer from the Council- but responsibilities and money does
• ALMO wholly owned by the Council
• Extra money linked to good housing management
ALMOs - how do they work?
Council
delegates services
retains ownership and responsibility
ALMO
provides services
tenants are still council tenants
Tenant board
members
ALMOs – responsibilities
Homelessness obligations
Lettings & rent policy
Providing resources
Private sector renewal
Setting standards & monitoring ALMO
performance
Rent and arrears collection
Tenant participation & consultation
Repairs & improvements
Enforcing tenancy conditions
Estate management
Environmental protection
CouncilALMO
ALMOs – the process
If awarded at least 2*, eligible to draw extra funds8
Inspection by the Housing Inspectorate7
ALMO goes live and operates for at least 6 months6
s.27 approval to delegate responsibilities5
ALMO runs as shadow body4
Conditional ££££ allocation3
i] Expression of interest - summary sheet ii] Bid – full details2
Option Appraisal1
Funding for ALMOs
•£1,994 million under Sustainable Communities Plan– £323 million in 2003/04– £852 million in 2004/05– £820 million in 2005/06
ROUND 3 ALLOCATIONSAuthority tenanted Conditional Total bid
properties allocation2004-06 2004-11
£m £mBarnet 11,452 19 88.5Camden 25,772 45 283Easington 11,212 23.6 117.3Gateshead 24,663 63 232Harrow 5,258 5 11.9High Peak 4,389 4.7 9.4Islington 30,231 24.9 157.5Newcastle 32,092 64 348Poole 4,726 17.4 35.4Sheffield (part) 11,074 49.7 144.8Solihull 11,541 21 63.3South Lakes 3,421 4.2 21Warrington 9,935 18.3 30.4
Totals (13) 185,766 359.80 1,542.50
Progress so far
Rounds 1 & 2– All round 1 ALMOs have qualified for funding– 4 of the 18 ALMOs in round 2 had qualified for funding by
September– They have generally been spending what they said they would– High levels of tenant support - 57- 90% in Rnd 2
Round 3– Further 13 local authorities given allocations in July 2003 to begin
spending in 2004/5– 1 in 5 council homes (550,000 units) now covered by ALMO
proposals
Round 4– Expressions of Interests 26 September 2003– 19 Bids, 300k homes, £2179m
TENANT SUPPORT Rnd 1
Authority Method Response In FavourAshfield Survey 8% 97%Derby Ballot 48% 88%
Hounslow Ballot 35% 83%Kirklees Ballot 47% 81%
Rochdale Ballot 43% 90%Stockton Ballot 44% 93%
Westminster Survey 5% 70%Wigan Survey 3% 96%
TENANT SUPPORT Rnd 2Authority Method Response In Favour
Barnsley Ballot 25% 57%Blyth Valley Survey 14% 93%
Bolton Survey Sample > 90%Brent Phone Survey Sample 62%
Carrick Ballot 61% 96%Cheltenham Survey 24% 90%Colchester Ballot 57% 76%Hillingdon Phone Survey Sample 61%
K&C Survey and Vote Info not availableLeeds Ballot 39% 88%
Oldham Survey 2% 70%Salford Survey 2% 71%
Waltham Forest Ballot 49% 85%
Contact details• email:
– [email protected]• telephone:
– 07810 657287– 020 7944 8145
• in writing:– CHTF, 2F8 Eland House, Bressenden
Place, LONDON, SW1E 5DU