Archives for May 2007
Corby housing rated ‘fair’
Housing services provided by Corby borough council were rated ‘fair’ and given one star out of three by the Audit Commission after an assessment.
The rating marked an advance on the previous zero star rating that the service received.
Customer focus, management and leadership and the professionalism and approachability of staff were deemed to be aspects that had improved.
Other strengths included good access arrangements and the fact that customers can contact the service through a variety of mechanisms.
Ann Bennett, the Audit Commission’s lead housing inspector for the East Midlands, said: “Management of the service has improved since our last inspection in 2005 and cross-authority working is delivering real benefits for tenants.
“The introduction of the One Stop Shop has improved quality in services for tenants, cleaning and grounds maintenance is generally of a high standard and strong partnerships are being developed both internally and externally,” she added.
Remaining weaknesses included the repairs service and the level of resident involvement.
Corby borough council owns and manages 5,177 homes.
Hodge sparks housing debate
The industry minister Margaret Hodge sparked a debate on housing allocation this week after making comments on immigrants’ place in the housing queue.
She warned that social housing “will always be a limited resource” and that British families should take precedence over immigrants.
Ms Hodge said: “A lot of black and Asian British people feel as strongly as some white families do – that there is an essential unfairness in the system. They feel they’ve grown up in the borough and they’re entitled to a home.
“But that sense of entitlement is often overridden by a real need of new immigrant families. And their need will often override the entitlement that many white families feel.
“The people I’m talking about are economic migrants, not refugees,” she added.
The Conservatives replied that Labour’s immigration policy was failing.
The shadow Home Office minister, Damian Green, said: “Margaret Hodge is admitting the long-term failure of this government to control immigration.
“This is why Conservatives are calling for an explicit annual limit on the numbers coming here from outside the EU – so that we can avoid exactly the sort of problems she is talking about.”
Labour MP John Cruddas concluded: “We’re in danger of racialising arguments over housing allocation rather than concentrating on the need for greater social housing provision.”
Kelly unveils major planning reforms
The communities secretary Ruth Kelly has unveiled major reforms to the UK’s planning system.
The changes, presented in a government white paper, are part of a bid to make the planning process faster and to improve community consultation.
A speedier system will be used to decide major infrastructure projects and greater community engagement will be required.
A simpler planning model for householders will also be launched, making it easier for homeowners to embark on home improvements such as extensions and conservatories.
Meanwhile, planning will play a bigger role in tackling climate change and it will continue to ensure support for “vibrant” town centres.
Ms Kelly said: “It is 60 years since the Attlee government introduced the Town and Country Planning Act – the system has created thriving towns and protected our green spaces.
“But today we face challenges that the Attlee government could never have foreseen – the need to cut emissions from climate change, or the need to support high-quality jobs and build more homes.
“If we are to thrive, we need a better system for taking the difficult decisions. If we do not the risks are significant – energy shortages, mounting congestion and increasing pollution,” she added.
The new system will replace over eight different planning regimes that are currently in place.
Barnet housing support rated ‘good’
Housing-related support administered to vulnerable people in Barnet has been rated ‘good’ by the Audit Commission.
The Supporting People programme, administered by Barnet council in London, received two stars out of three and was found to have ‘promising prospects for improvements’.
The council was found to be working effectively with other public sector organisations, while areas earmarked for improvement included service user involvement and communication with providers.
Adrian Brown, Audit Commission senior manager, said: “The council has challenging improvement plans and additional resources are being directed to address priorities.
“Strong ambitions for the service are being driven by clear and dynamic leadership. Improvements are being driven by effective performance management.
“Together these factors create promising prospects for further improvements,” he added.
Barnett council receives a Supporting People Grant of £7.118 million.
It uses the money to deliver services to people with housing-related support needs, including people who offend; people with drug, alcohol and mental health problems; people with learning difficulties and older people who need support to remain independently in their own homes.
Tories outline environmental challenges of housing
A Conservative minister has highlighted what he sees as the environmental challenges raised by the need for housing – and ways of tackling them.
Mark Prisk, the shadow minister for business and enterprise, first acknowledged the importance of the construction industry to the UK economy in a statement.
He went on to consider the environmental challenges posed by housing.
“Our housing stock represents one of the single most important sources of CO2 emissions, in fact it generates more CO2 than the country’s 26 million cars.
“If you had to measure it, each home on average spews out the CO2 equivalent in weight of a fully grown elephant, every year,” he added.
Mr Prisk then outlined the ways in which a conservative government would tackle the issue.
These included setting out a “comprehensive” long-term strategy followed by a period during which industry would be left to work out solutions for itself alongside a government “leading by example”.
He also advocated tax incentives to cut emissions and more emphasis on the notion that green businesses can enhance their earnings since they are more appealing to the public.
Norfolk council to reduce carbon footprint
Norfolk county council has unveiled plans to reduce its carbon footprint.
The council has signed up to the Carbon Trust’s Local Authority Carbon Management Programme to help reduce its carbon emissions.
Over the next 11 months it will work with the Carbon Trust to create and implement a plan to cut carbon output.
Officers from buildings maintenance and highway operations; transportation, environmental and capital projects; street lighting, waste management, procurement, communications and schools will all form part of the team.
Councillor Ian Monson, cabinet member for environment and waste and project sponsor for the initiative said: “It is important that in today’s green awareness climate Norfolk county council is involved in energy saving practices.
“Once the plan is drafted, a case for action will be presented to senior officers and councillors for endorsement, with carbon reductions to strive for,” he added.
The launch of the Carbon Trust’s programme in London last month saw 45 local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales sign up.
The trust is now working with 143 of the UK’s 468 local authorities.
Flood damage guide published
A guide aiming to reduce damage to new buildings in areas at risk from flooding has been published today.
Communities and Local Government, the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency set out ways in which structures should be designed and constructed so as to keep people safe and lessen financial impact when floods occur.
The report recognises that while planning policy aims to direct development away from flood risk areas, some building in such areas is necessary in order to maintain existing services and communities.
Lords minister for planning, Baroness Andrews said: “There is a clear need for housing and supportive infrastructure across the country and with limited space to do this, it will not always be possible to build away from flood risk areas.
“Around ten per cent of England’s housing stock and population is already in flood risk areas and the sustainability of these communities must continue,” she added.
Climate experts say global warming could mean an increase in occurrences of flooding due to milder, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers.
Rosebery Housing Association rated ‘good’
Rosebery Housing Association has been rated ‘good’ by the Audit Commission, receiving two out of three stars.
Effective practice highlighted by the commission’s report includes access to services and information for residents, as well as repairs and maintenance of tenants’ homes.
A strong focus on resident involvement, including activities to engage younger people, was also praised.
Weaknesses pinpointed included estate management, which was deemed inconsistent.
Sara Kulay, the Audit Commission’s lead housing inspector for the south-east, said: “Rosebery Housing Association is delivering good-quality housing management services to its tenants.
“Significant investment in its properties has ensured that tenants’ homes are well-maintained and residents are actively involved in shaping service delivery.
“There is a clear vision for the future development of services, supported by effective partnership working and good quality plans,” she added.
Rosebery Housing Association oversees 2,301 homes, including 1,483 general needs properties, 216 elderly or sheltered homes and 128 units of temporary accommodation.
It employs around 50 staff.
House building increases in England
House building is on the increase in England, official figures released today show.
During the first quarter of 2007 the number of houses completed increased by three per cent to 167,700.
Completions have also shown an increase of 18 per cent to 44,600 between the latest quarter and the equivalent quarter in 2006.
Over the ten year period to 2007 the regions with the highest number of houses completed have been the north-east, Yorkshire and the Humber, the east midlands, the east of England and the south-west.
The only areas not to have seen an acceleration in the number of houses being built during the last financial year are the north-west, the west midlands and the south-east.
Meanwhile, comparing the latest quarter to March with the equivalent quarter last year, the number of new houses started has shown a nine per cent decline to 43,600.
Comparing 2005-06 with 2006-07, the number of new houses started has gone down by six per cent to 173,400
The figures were released by Communities and Local Government.
Boost for Thurrock regeneration
The future of housing and jobs in Thurrock today looked bright after the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation, which is currently driving regeneration in the area, had its lifespan extended.
The move was announced by the minister for housing and planning, Yvette Cooper.
The corporation will now oversee the development in Thurrock of 18,500 new homes and 26,000 new jobs by 2014.
Ms Cooper said: “I am delighted to announce that the lifespan of the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation has been extended to 2014.
“This extension will allow the corporation to continue its good work in regenerating Thurrock and improving the aspirations and opportunities for those living and working in the area,” she added.
The Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation was first established in 2003, with an initial indicative lifespan of seven years.
Written statements setting out details for the extension were sent today to both houses of parliament.