Info for Board Members

31 October 2008

Promoting inter-generational understanding through Community Philosophy

Communities can bring younger and older people together in ways that may be uncomfortable for both groups. Young people’s behaviour may be labelled 'nuisance', while older people's views may be labelled 'intolerant'. This Joseph Rowntree study summarises an independent evaluation of the 'Thinking Village project', which was designed to develop intergenerational understanding in a neighbourhood, using the principles of 'Community Philosophy'

11 September 2008

The Cole Report: delivering cross-domain regulation for social housing

Professor Ian Cole was appointed to chair a panel of independent stakeholders tasked with producing recommendations to government on how to extend the scope of the Tenant Services Authority to include local authority social housing. This report presents the set of final recommendations

11 September 2008

Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Tenant Services Authority (TSA)

Network briefing by Charlie Hughes summarises the background to splitting up the Housing Corporation's functions of funding and regulation and reminds readers of the reasons and objectives behind this change

15 July 2008

Short notice inspections

Network briefing and guidance by Ellis Blackmore explains what to do in detail and how to overcome typical obstacles picking out the relevant key points for Network members

11 July 2008

Rewarding awards?

Network briefing by Cathy Jackson provides a flavour of some of the key awards that are available

11 July 2008

Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities Statutory Guidance: Summary of Responses to Consultation

This document provides a summary of responses received as part of the consultation process for the draft statutory guidance Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities

11 July 2008

Communities in control: real people, real power - White Paper

Communities in control: real people, real power was launched on 9 July 2008. This White Paper is about passing power to communities and giving real control and influence to more people

9 July 2008

White Paper delivers power shift to local people

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has published a White Paper setting out proposals to deliver a fundamental shift in power, influence and responsibility into the hands of communities and citizens

27 May 2008

Designing Citizen-centred Governance

Joseph Rowntree report

18 March 2008

The Housing Quality Network revised performance indicator handbook for councils 2008

Part three Housing Benefit performance – based on performance during 2007/8

10 March 2008

The Housing Quality Network revised performance indicator handbook for councils 2008

Part 2 Homelessness PI’s – based on performance during 2007/08

4 March 2008

The Housing Quality Network revised performance indicator handbook for councils 2008

Part 1 Housing PI’s – based on performance during 2007/8

26 February 2008

The Big Picture

Network briefing by Chloe Fletcher highlights the main policy changes over the past year and outlines what it will mean for housing providers in the coming few years

25 February 2008

Lifetime Homes, lifetime neighbourhoods: A national strategy for housing in an ageing society

The ageing of the population will be one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century for housing. This strategy sets CLG’s response to this challenge and their plan to create Lifetime Homes in Lifetime Neighbourhoods

6 February 2008

Corporation to increase focus on role of boards

A failure of governance is still the primary cause of failings in housing associations said Steve Douglas in his first major speech in 2008.

1 February 2008

Good practice note 15 - demonstrating internal controls assurance in housing associations

These guidance notes expand upon various considerations relating to internal controls assurance that a board might consider in establishing its internal controls strategy and in choosing appropriate sources of evidence to be included within its annual assessment

28 January 2008

Recent housing management inspections: some data and observations

In depth analysis of recent inspection reports by Clive Bayliss. What drives the results? Are the inspectors' consistent? How should I approach inspection in 2008?

22 January 2008

Kate Barker appointed to head Oftenant transition team

The Housing Corporation has welcomed the appointment of Kate Barker as Chair of the Transition Project Board for the Office for Tenants and Social Landlords (Oftenant)

17 January 2008

Consultation on minor changes to CPA framework launched

Under proposals launched by the Audit Commission there are to be minimal changes to the framework of the final Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), which will be carried out in 2008.

19 December 2007

Tenant satisfaction has increased

Overall tenant satisfaction has increased according to the latest key housing association performance indicator (PI) results for March 2007, released by the Housing Corporation

13 December 2007

Central-Local Concordat

Creating a more participatory democracy requires a healthy representative democracy at local level. It also requires citizens to understand the roles of central and local government, and who can be held responsible for the decisions and services which affect their lives. Communities and Local Government and the Local Government Association (LGA) have worked together to establish a concordat to govern the relations between central and local government. This establishes for the first time an agreement on the rights and responsibilities of local government, including its responsibilities to provide effective leadership of the local area and to empower local communities where possible

26 November 2007

Tightrope or safety belt? Building board and council relationships at ALMOs and LSVTs

Network briefing by Debbie Ounsted examines why ALMO and LSVT boards alike have an interest in polishing their partnerships with their council for mutual benefit in the longer term

23 November 2007

Focus on small housing associations by Corporation

Research into the support needed by small housing associations has been commissioned by the Housing Corporation, looking specifically at the provision of support for this area

16 November 2007

The Housing and Regeneration Bill

Impact assessment

16 November 2007

The Housing and Regeneration Bill

CLG

16 November 2007

New legislation for greener, more affordable housing

A new Bill has been published which will drive forward the Government’s pledge to build 3 million greener, more affordable new homes by 2020 to help first-time buyers and families. New measures in the Housing and Regeneration Bill include legislation to remove barriers to councils building their own social housing, stronger action where tenants are unhappy with the management of their estates, and new rules for councils to tackle anti-social tenants. The Bill will also establish a new watchdog for social tenants - Oftenant - and give this watchdog a duty to reduce red tape for good Housing Associations

26 October 2007

An action plan for community empowerment: building on success

CLG action plan designed to transform the relationship between public bodies and communities by giving more people an active role in the decisions that affect them

24 October 2007

The Greater London Authority

- the government's final plans for additional powers and responsibilities for the mayor and assembly: includes plans to publish a London wide housing strategy

23 October 2007

Almos - renewing your management agreement

Network briefing by Nick MacKenzie, Anthony Collins Solicitors, considers the process for renewing an ALMO’s management agreement

22 October 2007

'Empowerment action plan'

Setting out how the Government will deliver on its commitment to bring about greater devolution and empower communities published by Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears

16 October 2007

Next steps for new social housing watchdog

A new social housing watchdog that will crack down on registered social landlords in England who are giving tenants a poor service, such as long waits for repairs, is being established as an independent, standalone body, Housing Minister Yvette Cooper announced

9 October 2007

The New Council Constitutions: The Outcomes and Impact of the Local Government Act 2000

This is the main research output from a long-term evaluation of new constitutions in English local government. It examines the impact of the new political leadership models on local government, for instance, on performance, and looks at how well the reforms of the 2000 Act have been embedded across the four years since the Act

20 September 2007

Blears: Time to deliver on devolution

Hazel Blears unveiled the first phase of guidance for new Local Area Agreements (LAAs) today marking a radical letting go of Whitehall controls to give councils and communities more power to decide their own local priorities.

20 September 2007

LAA Dry-run negotiations: Final Report: Headline Messages - September 2007

This report outlines the headline findings of the LAA dry-run negotiation process which was undertaken between April and July 2007. This exercise was undertaken in preparation for the introduction of new LAAs as set out in the Strong and Prosperous Communities: Local Government White Paper

20 September 2007

Negotiating new local area agreements

This is the first part of two-stage guidance on the negotiation process for negotiating a new LAA. This first part tells the 'narrative' of each level of government with respect to the LAA process. It also incorporates the lessons learnt from feasibility testing, helps to 'de-mystify' the negotiation process and helps to set expectations that each can have of each other.

26 July 2007

A quick summary of the new housing Green Paper

Network summary by Andy Selman of the housing Green Paper published on 23 July

17 July 2007

Communities Scotland – guide to inspections

Communities Scotland guide to inspection sets out how regulation and inspection carries out its inspections of RSLs and the landlord and homelessness services of local authorities

17 July 2007

Let's call the whole thing off: is your responsive maintenance service as good as you think it is?

Wayne Hughes explains why tenants and responsive repairs providers disagree about maintenance performance and what to do about it

16 July 2007

Housing: Encouraging Responsible Letting

Law commission consultation paper dealing with issues of how to promote responsible behaviour by landlords, and control anti-social behaviour by tenants in the private sector. The closing date for responses to the consultation paper is 12 October 2007

13 July 2007

How to gather views on service quality

Communities Scotland guidance note on issues and concerns around ethical practices in research and consultation

6 July 2007

Audit Commission Consultation on Pilot Short Notice Inspections of Housing Associations – HQN Response

Alistair McIntosh welcomes the pilot’s fast track route from one to two stars but has concerns about inspecting only weaker services from previous reports. Will a full and fair picture emerge?

27 June 2007

Housing association board member remuneration limits revised

The Housing Corporation has increased the maximum amount that associations may pay their officers, from £20,000 (set in 2003) to £25,000 in line with inflation

26 June 2007

06/07: Amendment to governing documents

Housing Corporation circular which advises all housing associations of the Housing Corporation’s arrangements for processing changes to their governing documents/constitution (i.e. Rules, Memoranda and Articles of Association, Charity Commission Schemes, Trust Deeds etc), including, where appropriate, the need to obtain the Corporation’s sealed consent under Part II, Schedule 1 to the Housing Act 1996

19 June 2007

Every Tenant Matters: A Review of Social Housing Regulation

Report of the independent review of social housing regulation led by Professor Martin Cave, Director of Management under Regulation at Warwick University

15 June 2007

Housing Corporation requirements in relation to resident involvement

This circular sets out the regulatory requirements placed on housing associations arising from the People First: Delivering Change Through Involvement Policy, which was adopted by the Corporation’s board on 1 May 2007

4 June 2007

Good governance - why it matters

This flyer lets you know what HQN can do for you to make a difference to your governance arrangements or simply if you want to check how well you're doing in relation to the sector's best.

24 May 2007

The Audit Commission is planning a pilot programme of short notice inspections

The Audit Commission is planning a pilot programme of short notice inspections of housing associations following recommendations by the Elton Review. Audit Commission consultation invites comments between 23 May and 6 July to help to shape the methodology of the pilot

23 May 2007

Opening the transfer window: The government's response to the Quirk review

This document sets out the government's response to the Quirk Review's recommendations and details some specific actions it will deliver with key partners, as part of a co-ordinated implementation plan

17 May 2007

Seeing the light

Audit Commission report which is intended to encourage local authorities to consider innovation as one way of achieving sustained performance improvement. By providing practical advice and support, based on authorities' own experiences of innovating, it aims to assist in creating the conditions in which innovation is fostered, developed and managed effectively

11 May 2007

Delivering a co-ordinated and proportionate approach to inspection

This note sets out the achievements of the principal inspectorates of local services in creating closer strategic and operational links between inspectorates and regulators and in reducing the impact of inspection and regulation on local service providers

1 May 2007

Home builders federation

Speech given by Yvette Cooper MP to The Home Builders Federation Annual general meeting

30 April 2007

Resident-led self-regulation: potential and prospects

Housing Corporation funded paper which examines the potential and prospects of a new method for putting residents at the heart of regulation – resident-led self-regulation

11 April 2007

The future of social housing: an HQN conference

Network briefing by HQN Associate Janis Bright, summarises the presentations at HQN’s recent conference which explored the changing roles, responsibilities and expectations of the sector

22 March 2007

Ends and means - the future role of social housing - The Hills Report

Network briefing by Doug Edmonds focusing on the actions that local government and other social landlords might take in advance of any policy or legislative change

8 March 2007

The Cave Review of housing regulation: responses

Network briefing by Janis Bright examines the key themes emerging and provides a summary of points from a range of leading organisations

26 February 2007

Inspecting large scale voluntary transfer organisations – lessons from the past 18 months

Briefing by Sheila Camp looks at the key themes that emerge from the 29 reports to provide pointers to areas that LSVTs need to give special attention before the inspectors call

8 February 2007

Tenant inspectors - helping to improve and develop housing services

Network briefing by Carole Amer (with additional material from Laurie McCormack) explores how tenant inspectors are being empowered by different organisations

25 January 2007

Analysis of local authority housing management performance 2005/6

The latest briefing in our annual series of performance indicator analyses by Hal Pawson

12 January 2007

Motivations and Barriers to Citizen Governance

This report contains the outcomes of a research study which used focus group interviews to build upon the findings of the 2005 Citizenship Survey on involvement in citizenship governance roles. This study provides an insight into people's awareness and knowledge of citizen governance, the barriers and motivations to involvement and the types of people who get involved in these roles

9 January 2007

Capability review of Communities and Local Government

Network briefing by Doug Edmonds summarises the capability review of CLG

5 January 2007

The Cave Review of Social Housing Regulation

Network briefing, Alistair McIntosh sets out the key issues the review will consider and poses some questions for the team on costs, standards and risk-based regulation

20 December 2006

Growing Up - The report

Future Shape of Sector Commission concludes growth in larger associations to continue but must simplify their structures and governance arrangements, protect surpluses and improve local accountability whilst strengthening partnerships with both local and national government