Management England/Wales

   

Rent

• 15 November 2007

  Housing Corporation Circular 09/07 Rents, rent differentials and service charges for housing associations

   

• 15 October 2007

  Tolerated trespass – the beginning of the end? Network briefing paper by Tim Horsley takes an up to date look at Tolerated Trespassers including CLG’s Tolerated Trespasser consultation paper

   

• 22 May 2007

  Spatial Variations in the Take-up of Means-tested Benefits This research was commissioned to extend previous research on variations in the take-up of means tested benefits and to see whether it would be possible to make adjustments to take account of any differences in take-up observed

   

• 21 May 2007

  Dealing with personal insolvency Network briefing written by insolvency specialist Edward Cook includes explanations of what bankruptcy and IVAs mean; how it affects the collection of rent; and the impact on recovery of overpayments of benefits

   

• 5 February 2007

  How flexible tenure can prevent mortgage repossessions – using flexible tenure to sustain communities Briefing paper, by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, explores how the shared ownership scheme they operate has worked in practice, particularly in the context of preventing mortgage repossessions.

   

• 29 January 2007

  Rent data published by the Housing Corporation Guide to local rents

   

 

Governance

• 1 December 2008

  To see ourselves as others see us - but first How good is your board? Test yourself in our quick on-line quiz for board members. Follow the link to our HQN governance self assessment toolkit with a foreword from Peter Marsh of the TSA

   

• 13 October 2008

  HQN consultancy services: Good governance - why it matters HQN is the largest consultancy in the UK focused exclusively on the social housing sector. If you want to make a real improvement to your governance arrangements or simply want to check how well you're doing in relation to the sector's best, our team can help

   

• 22 September 2008

  Governance and Accountability for Local Councils The Governance and Accountability for Local Councils: A Practitioners Guide 2008 (Wales) has been jointly issued by One Voice Wales and the Society of Local Council Clerks. The guide has been prepared in response to the need for a clear statement on ‘proper practices’ for both day-to-day practitioners and auditors, internal and external

   

• 17 June 2008

  Risk management plans vital for housing association boards, says Housing Corporation Chairman Housing Corporation Chairman Peter Dixon has sent a letter to all housing association chairs urging them to have extensive risk management plans in place to deal with the current conditions within the credit and housing markets

   

• 27 May 2008

  Community Gateway briefing Case study briefing by Paul Roberts explores why this approach was taken, looks at their model, community empowerment and what the future holds for Preston’s community gateway model

   

• 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.

   

• 4 January 2008

  Orders and Regulations Relating to the Conduct of Local Authority Members in England CLG consultation which ends 15 February 2007

   

• 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

   

• 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

   

• 30 August 2007

  LSVT’s CLG list of completed LSVT’s to date

   

• 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

   

• 5 June 2007

  Good Practice Note 3: Maintaining standards of probity Housing corporation good practice note

   

• 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.

   

• 15 May 2007

  The Quirk Review of Community Management and Ownership of Public Assets The purpose of the review is to consider the powers, policies and barriers that affect the transfer of public assets to local communities, and to make recommendations

   

• 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

   

• 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

   

 

PIs and benchmarking

• 16 October 2008

  Analysis of 2006/07 Housing Corporation performance indicators for housing associations in England Network briefing by Clive Hall and Doug Edmonds, shows continuing improvements in void management and rent collection

   

• 28 August 2007

  Your questions answered: the Housing Corporation's new performance indicator suite Network briefing by John Wheeldon tackles common problems with definitions, validation, void periods, appointments and STATUS questions

   

• 2 March 2007

  Analysis of 2005/06 Housing Corporation performance indicators for housing associations in England Analysis of 2005/06 Housing Corporation performance indicators for housing associations in England Network briefing by Clive Hall, shows continuing improvements in void management and rent collection, while repairs performance holds steady

   

 

Equalities issues

• 2 December 2008

  Disability Equality Report The purpose of this report is to help further the government's vision of equality for disabled people by 2025 as set out in the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit Report Improving Life Chances of Disabled People

   

• 26 November 2008

  Working together to deliver for Gypsies and Travellers Speech by Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

   

• 21 November 2008

  Working Towards Community Cohesion in a Time of Uncertainty Speech by Sadiq Khan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

   

• 20 November 2008

  Independent Review of Older People's Engagement with government: Consultation On 18 November 2008, John presented his final report to government. To ensure that everyone with an interest in this important area has an opportunity to provide views on John’s findings and recommendations, Rosie Winterton, Minister of State for Pensions and the Ageing Society is inviting comments. Consultation closes on 09-01-09

   

• 14 November 2008

  Preventing violent extremism learning and development exercise The Audit Commission and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary undertook a learning and development exercise to draw out learning from the first year of local work to prevent violent extremism

   

• 30 October 2008

  Disabled adaptations - the current agenda Complimentary SEN briefing by Vanessa Morton provides a detailed overview of the main policy agenda which is likely to frame the way in which adaptations are currently delivered and how they will be delivered in the future

   

• 24 October 2008

  Housing needs and aspirations of ethnic minority communities The housing needs and aspirations of Britain’s large black and minority ethnic (BME) communities differ from those of white British communities. This seventh paper in the Planning for the Future series from the Housing Corporation looks at these differences

   

• 20 October 2008

  New one-stop shop for cohesion launched Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has welcomed the launch of a new dedicated website giving expert help and guidance on creating strong, cohesive communities

   

• 8 October 2008

  The housing and neighbourhood impact of Britain's changing ethnic mix This paper summarises evidence, largely from Joseph Rowntree Foundation funded studies, on the nature and impact of Britain’s changing ethnic mix and reviews recent policy responses and lessons from the studies for government policy

   

• 8 October 2008

  Community Cohesion and Neighbourhood Management: A Theme Report from the Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders National Evaluation CLG theme report which explores the role that neighbourhood management can play in promoting community cohesion by examining the experience of five case study pathfinder areas

   

• 25 September 2008

  Implementing the Mobile Homes Act 1983 on local authority Gypsy and Traveller sites: a consultation paper The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 will apply the Mobile Homes Act 1983 to local authority Gypsy and Traveller sites. This CLG consultation document seeks views on a number of issues around implementing the1983 Act on these sites

   

• 27 August 2008

  Formative evaluation of community strategies CLG research report draws upon evidence from the national evaluation of community strategies to consider how equality and diversity are addressed within community strategies in a selection of local authorities between 2003 and 2007

   

• 12 August 2008

  The Socially Excluded Adults Public Service Agreement Network briefing by Bill Hewlett explores how the government is taking action through the Socially Excluded Adults Public Service Agreement

   

• 7 August 2008

  Gender Equality Scheme: Annual Report 2007/2008 Gender Equality Scheme: Annual Report 2007/2008 This report summarises the progress CLG has made in promoting gender equality in the first 12 months of the scheme by providing information and evidence gathered, and by identifying the next steps

   

• 1 August 2008

  Toolkit on how to manage pitches for Gypsies and Travellers A new report aimed at educating housing associations about pitches for Gypsies and Travellers has been released by the Housing Corporation

   

• 29 July 2008

  Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: Easyread version This is the government's plan about making sure older people have a good and safe place to live

   

• 22 July 2008

  Foundations to take home improvements for older and disabled people to the next level Home improvements for older and disabled people will be supported and promoted by 'Foundations' after they were awarded the contract to run the national body for Home Improvement Agencies, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Baroness Andrews has announced

   

• 22 July 2008

  Face to Face and Side by Side: A framework for partnership in our multi faith society This document sets out how faith communities, Government and wider society can work together, at all levels, to encourage and enable greater local activity which brings people with different religions and beliefs together

   

• 22 July 2008

  Face to Face and Side by Side: A framework for partnership in our multi faith society - Summary The Government have now published Face to Face and Side by Side: A framework for partnership in our multi faith society. The framework sets out how faith communities, Government and wider society can work together to encourage and enable greater local activity which brings people with different religions and beliefs together. This summary introduces the key points of the framework

   

• 21 July 2008

  Immigration and social cohesion in the UK Joseph Rowntree research which draws on original material gathered from six UK sites with different experiences of migration and post-industrial transformations, and comprising different populations of long-term residents and new immigrants

   

• 21 July 2008

  Preventing Violent Extremism: Next Steps for Communities In April 2007 Communities and Local Government launched our Preventing Violent Extremism: Winning Hearts and Minds action plan. In that document we set out a range of practical actions to mobilise communities against violent extremists

   

• 17 July 2008

  Don't stop me now - Preparing for an ageing population The Audit Commission's new report, Don't stop me now – Preparing for an ageing population, has found that councils in England, particularly those which have the fastest ageing populations, are not ready to meet the challenges or grasp opportunities as we get older

   

• 15 July 2008

  Immigration and inclusion in South Wales Joseph Rowntree research which explores the impact of new migration on receiving communities, in particular on community, integration and cohesion. Based on research carried out in Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil, it explores the perspectives of both new and settled residents

   

• 1 July 2008

  The government response to Our Shared Future: recommendations on community cohesion for social housing providers Network briefing by Joanna Jeffery and Richard Seager highlights those parts of the government response that have particular significance for social housing providers

   

• 26 June 2008

  Citizenship Survey: April 2007 - March 2008, England and Wales This release provides headline findings from all four quarters of the 2007-2008 Citizenship Survey, covering April 2007- March 2008. The release covers active and empowered communities; community cohesion; and racial prejudice and discrimination

   

• 25 June 2008

  Community engagement and community cohesion Government policies for community engagement have been high profile, as have community cohesion agendas – but these have been developed in parallel. Joseph Rowntree study explores the challenges of bringing them together. It examines ways of enabling new arrivals to become involved, promoting solidarity and cohesion rather than competition and conflict between newer and more established communities

   

• 11 June 2008

  Managing the impacts of migration Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has set out the range of actions the government is taking to manage migration, maximise the benefits for the whole of the UK and minimise the negative impacts

   

• 6 June 2008

  Housing and disabled children Joseph Rowntree round-up, which provides an overview of what is known about the housing circumstances of disabled children and their families

   

• 22 May 2008

  Additional Government funding and recognition for the third sector working to improve race equality and cohesion Community organisations committed to supporting and improving community relations and race equality will gain access to a new funding pot of up to £660,000 with the announcement of the successful recipients of the third round of the Connecting Communities Plus Community Grants

   

• 16 May 2008

  Cohesion guidance for funders consultation: Impact Assessment This document assesses the impact of the proposals in the Cohesion Guidance for Funders Consultation which was published on 4 Feb 2008

   

• 14 May 2008

  Gold awards The winners of the prestigious Housing Corporation’s Gold Awards 2007 have now been announced. There were three themes for the annual awards which were presented by Housing Minister, Caroline Flint

   

• 13 May 2008

  Three stars for equality and diversity: lessons from recent inspections Network briefing by Joanna Jeffery and Richard Seager highlighting good practice and areas of weakness identified in recent inspection reports

   

• 12 May 2008

  Guidance for local authorities on community cohesion contingency planning and tension monitoring Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has published new guidance encouraging local authorities to better map their communities and the people that live there as part of efforts to monitor tensions and promote more cohesive and integrated communities

   

• 25 April 2008

  Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A national strategy for housing in an ageing society Network briefing by Hazel Summers outlines the key elements and implications of the national strategy for housing in an ageing society

   

• 8 April 2008

  The Independent Living Strategy Network briefing by Joanna Jeffery and Richard Seager explores the Independent Living Strategy and its impact for service providers

   

• 3 April 2008

  Disabled Facilities Grant reform - the package of changes SEN briefing by Vanessa Morton highlights key issues and areas where action is needed to improve disabled people’s ability to access independent living, and sustain it. It draws attention to the national agendas and direction of travel, and provides examples of different perspectives and good practice

   

• 1 April 2008

  Government Response to The Road Ahead: The Final Report of the Independent Task Group on Gypsy and Traveller Site Provision and Enforcement In December 2007, the Independent Task Group on Site Provision and Enforcement published their final report to Ministers: The Road Ahead. This document sets out the response to the recommendations to central government within that report

   

• 1 April 2008

  The Adequacy of Refuges, Escape Stairs and Management Procedures: BD 2441 CLG final report which summarises the findings from the consultation process into the adequacy of refuges and evacuation procedures. It describes the literature review and consultation processes, and makes recommendations for potential changes to regulations and for future work

   

• 28 March 2008

  Routes and barriers to citizen governance Joseph Rowntree study which explored the realities of citizen governance through the testimonies of 50 women from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities actively engaged in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, and participants from selected affluent and disadvantaged Birmingham wards

   

• 27 March 2008

  Disabled Facilities Grant reform - the package of changes SEN briefing by Vanessa Morton highlights key issues and areas where action is needed to improve disabled people’s ability to access independent living, and sustain it. It draws attention to the national agendas and direction of travel, and provides examples of different perspectives and good practice

   

• 25 March 2008

  Equality and diversity - New guidance from the Housing Corporation Network briefing, by Joanna Jeffery and Richard Seager, describes the scope of the new guidance as well as its limitations

   

• 25 March 2008

  Immigration, faith and cohesion Joseph Rowntree Housing trust research, which analyses new data from three local areas, Birmingham, Bradford and Newham, where relatively large numbers of recently arrived Muslim migrants and established Muslim residents are living alongside people of other faiths and of no faith

   

• 7 March 2008

  Gypsy and Traveller Sites Grant Guidance 2008-2011 The Gypsy and Traveller Sites Grant provides capital funding for improving and increasing Gypsy and Traveller site provision by local authorities and Registered Social Landlords

   

• 25 February 2008

  Disabled Facilities Grant: The Package of Changes to Modernise the Programme This document sets out the Government's response to the consultation paper - Disabled Facilities Grant Programme: The Government's proposals to improve programme delivery

   

• 20 February 2008

  More responsive public services? A guide to commissioning migrant and refugee community organisations Joseph Rowntree guide to commissioning migrant and refugee community organisations (MRCOs) to deliver public services.

   

• 5 February 2008

  The Government’s Response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion This document forms part of CLG’s response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion's final report, Our shared future. This response sets out how the Government is following up all of the Commission's 57 recommendations

   

• 5 February 2008

  Blears - Response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion Communities Secretary Hazel Blears called for fresh efforts to promote cohesion and tackle community tensions and set out a range of new policies and actions to be driven forward by national and central government to create strong, united communities

   

• 4 February 2008

  Community cohesion impact assessment and community conflict prevention tool This tool allows local authorities to assess whether the activities they are planning will have a positive impact on cohesion in their neighbourhoods

   

• 22 January 2008

  Valuing people now Network briefing by Joanna Jeffery and Richard Seager sets out the main elements of the consultation document and highlights some of the key implications for social housing providers

   

• 14 January 2008

  Government announces extra funding for home adaptations Hundreds of older and disabled people across the country will benefit from an extra £11.5 million for home adaptations to help them live independently in their homes, Communities Minister Baroness Andrews has announced. The funding will help councils ramp up their Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) programme until the end of March.

   

• 17 December 2007

  "Face-to-Face and Side-by-Side": A framework for inter faith dialogue and social action – Consultation This consultation paper seeks views on the development of a framework for partnership which will support increased inter faith dialogue and social action. The closing date for responses is 7 March 2008

   

• 17 December 2007

  Proposals for 2008-11 national investment programme on larger homes, two star housing management criteria and auditing of BME method statements unveiled Acting Housing Corporation Chief Executive Steve Douglas has unveiled a package of proposals for larger homes, two star housing management criteria and the auditing of BME method statements as part of the Corporation's national investment programme 2008-11

   

• 17 December 2007

  New guidance to assist housing associations to eliminate discrimination How housing associations work towards the elimination of discrimination whilst promoting the continuous improvement on equality and diversity is set out in a good practice note published by the Housing Corporation

   

• 13 December 2007

  New drive to improve Gypsy and Traveller site provision Communities Minister Iain Wright today announced a further £97 million in Government funding to help local councils meet the housing needs of Gypsy and Traveller families in their area. The funding is part of a package of new measures aimed at cutting the number of unauthorised sites in inappropriate locations, such as car parks or lay-bys

   

• 13 December 2007

  The Road Ahead: Final Report of the Independent Task Group on Site Provision and Enforcement for Gypsies and Travellers This publication is The Final Report to Ministers of the Task Group on Site Provision and Enforcement. The Taskforce was formed in 2006 and chaired by Sir Brian Briscoe. During its existence, the Task Group took evidence from a range of organistations across the country which dealt with Gypsy and Traveller issues. This report details the Task Group's findings, and its recommendations to the Government

   

• 10 December 2007

  Guidance for Local Authorities on Translation of Publications This guidance document forms part of CLG’s response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion's final report, Our Shared Future. It sets out the steps local authorities can take when they are considering translation of their publications

   

• 10 December 2007

  Blears calls for a commonsense approach to translation Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has published new guidance on translation for local councils as part of efforts to bring about a fundamental rebalancing with greater emphasis on learning English and ensuring a commonsense approach is applied to translation. Hazel Blears warns that too much translation of public information is reinforcing the language barrier, acting as a brake on opportunity and undermining efforts to integrate non-English speaking residents in the UK

   

• 4 December 2007

  Government ramps up funding for home adaptations Thousands of older and disabled people will benefit from extra Government funding for home adaptations, such as ramps, stair lifts and easy-access showers. Communities Minister Baroness Andrews announced the increases in the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) as part of a package of measures designed at helping people live independently in their own homes for longer

   

• 30 November 2007

  Circular 10/07 - Housing association disability and gender action plans This Circular sets out the regulatory requirements placed on housing associations arising from the Corporation’s disability and gender equality schemes and action plans. It accompanies the Corporation’s regulatory Good Practice Note 8: Equality and Diversity (revised November 2007)

   

• 30 November 2007

  Good Practice note This Good Practice Note has been produced to help housing associations to achieve and exceed the minimum standards set out in the HC Regulatory Code and guidance, and to work towards the elimination of discrimination while promoting continuous improvement on equality and diversity

   

• 28 November 2007

  The housing pathways of new immigrants JRHT research which explores the arrival experiences and settlement stories of new immigrants. It focuses on the housing experiences of new immigrants and considers the consequences of their arrival for local housing markets and neighbourhoods.

   

• 11 October 2007

  Good practice guide published on community cohesion Housing officers are often the key to promoting neighbourhoods where people from different backgrounds are accepted and share similar opportunities. A newly revised guide from CIH and the Housing Corporation shows how housing professionals can use their regular contact with members of different communities to promote interaction and diffuse tensions

   

• 11 October 2007

  Housing providers are key to building cohesive communities, says new Housing Corporation strategy The vital role affordable housing providers, regional housing boards and local government play in creating and supporting cohesive communities and neighbourhoods has been recognised in a new strategy launched by the Housing Corporation

   

• 9 October 2007

  Consultation: Amendment to the Temporary Stop Notice Regulations - Summary of Responses In March 2007, Communities and Local Government consulted on an amendment to the Temporary Stop Notice Regulations, which would give further powers for local authorities to prohibit the stationing of a caravan already on an unauthorised site, if there was an alternative, authorised, site for the residents to move on to. This document details the responses to the consultation, and the Government's decision on the next steps

   

• 9 October 2007

  Blears - £50 million investment in community cohesion Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has announced a ten-point action plan to promote cohesion and tackle community tensions including £50million investment. This is part of the Government's response to the 10-month review by the Commission on Integration and Cohesion which looked at the major challenges Britain faces in responding to increasing change in local communities

   

• 9 October 2007

  Letter from Hazel Blears, secretary of state for CLG to Darra Singh, chair of the commission on Integration and Cohesion Outlining the Government's plan of action following the commissions publication ‘Our shared future’

   

• 5 October 2007

  Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessments CLG guidance

   

• 2 October 2007

  Guidance to support housing association production of Disability Equality Scheme and Action Plan launched Guidance to support housing associations in developing their own Disability Equality Schemes and Action Plans has been launched by the Housing Corporation

   

• 20 September 2007

  A lot done, a lot to do – Our vision for an integrated Britain The CRE’s final legacy document outlines the current state of UK race today with facts and statistics relating to all aspects of British life, from young people, health and education through to employment, communities, sport and local government

   

• 5 September 2007

  Gypsy and Traveller Sites Grant Guidance 20