Here you will find information and briefings from HQN, plus all the latest information from government, regulators and inspectors.
Scroll down to find the document you want.
Documents are also stored in our electronic library, and older items are in our archive.
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3 July 2009
Financial briefing note: Ministerial announcement on the outcome of the Review of Council Housing Finance
Network briefing by Steve Partridge covering the announcement on 30 June by the Housing Minister John Healey
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3 July 2009
TSA funding to recognise and promote best practice and innovation
A new project to identify and promote best practice by social housing providers in England has been launched by the TSA. HA’s, LA’s and ALMOs are invited to make bids of up to £9,000 to support the development of agreements between landlords and their tenants to develop 'local deals'
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3 July 2009
Inspection report
Berwickshire Housing Association - The Scottish Housing Regulator has awarded the association a 'fair' rating overall
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3 July 2009
Short notice inspection
Family Mosaic Housing Association -
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3 July 2009
Inspection report
Luton Borough Council - Landlord services
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3 July 2009
Inspection report
Craven District Council - Strategic housing services
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3 July 2009
Inspection report
East Dorset District Council - Strategic housing services
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3 July 2009
Inspection report
Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council - Supporting people re-inspection
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3 July 2009
A minimum income standard for Britain in 2009
This Joseph Rowntree study updates 2008’s innovative research, based on what members of the public thought people need for an acceptable minimum standard of living
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3 July 2009
Measuring and reporting value for money gains: a guide to compiling the data for National Indicator 179
All councils are required to report the total value for money (VfM) gains they have achieved through National Indicator 179. This guidance sets out the basic principles and requirements for measuring and reporting VfM gains, along with information on the efficiency agenda for the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review period
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3 July 2009
Code for Sustainable Homes: Technical guide - May 2009 Version 2
This technical guidance sets out the requirements for the Code, and the process by which a Code assessment is reached. It aims to make gaining a Code assessment as simple, transparent and rigorous as possible
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3 July 2009
John Healey announces radical dismantling of council housing finance
Councils will be able to keep all their rental income and gain the freedom to manage their housing to meet local need under plans unveiled by John Healey
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3 July 2009
Local authority capital expenditure and receipts, England: 2009-10 capital forecast
The latest national statistics on the forecast figures of local authority capital expenditure and receipts in the financial year April 2009 to March 2010 has now been released
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3 July 2009
Capping administration charges for equity share and loan arrangements offered by housing authorities - a consultation paper
The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 introduced provisions for housing authorities to take an equity share or offer an equity loan to enable their leaseholders to meet the service charge bills relating to their flats. This consultation paper seeks views on whether there should be a cap on administration fees charged by housing authorities on such arrangements, the issues surrounding capping and the appropriate level of any cap. Consultation closes 23.9.09
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2 July 2009
SEN launches the enabling affordable housing online resource
Available to members of the Strategic Excellence Network (SEN), this web-based toolkit assists local authorities to successfully develop and manage the enabling process
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30 June 2009
Short notice inspection
Circle 33 Housing Trust - Responsive repairs, gas servicing and income management
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30 June 2009
HCA welcomes new money and focuses on immediate delivery
The HCA is ready to begin delivering a significantly enlarged programme of public house building immediately, the Agency’s chief executive has confirmed. The HCA, responsible for housing and regeneration delivery in England, will take responsibility for an additional £1.5bn channelled into affordable housing over the next two years, following the announcement on Building Britain’s Future by the Prime Minister
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30 June 2009
Mortgage Rescue Scheme monitoring statistics - May 2009
The Mortgage Rescue Scheme monitoring statistics 'housing live table' gives information on the number of households approaching local authorities with mortgage difficulties and households applying and accepted for the scheme
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30 June 2009
Healey announces major plans for more homes and fairer lettings to meet local needs
As part of the Government's Building Britain's Future plans, Housing Minister John Healey has said that construction of thousands of extra homes will begin in a matter of months, thanks to the £1.5 billion pound housing investment announced by the Prime Minister
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30 June 2009
HQN briefing on the Equality Bill and the Equality Framework for Local Government
Network briefing by Joanna Jeffery and Richard Seager sets out the main points of the bill with relevance to social landlords, such as the new public duty to promote equality for all the six diversity strands as well as a new duty to take account of the need to tackle socio-economic disadvantage in strategic planning
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25 June 2009
What is needed to end child poverty in Wales?
This Joseph Rowntree study discusses progress made in Wales to end child poverty, and suggests what the Welsh Assembly Government could do to reach the 2020 target
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25 June 2009
Place Survey: England - Headline Results 2008
The 2008 Place Survey provides information on people's perceptions of their local area and the local services they receive. This release summarises the headline findings for England and Government Office regions with results for individual local authorities shown in the accompanying tables
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25 June 2009
John Denham: Making every pound work harder
Responsive and effective local councils will be key to giving taxpayers real value for money, Communities and Local Government Secretary John Denham has said
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25 June 2009
Survey signals time to strengthen local government
A major new national survey on what people think of their local area and council demonstrates the importance of renewing local democracy, said Communities Secretary John Denham
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25 June 2009
Housing Benefits inspection report
Milton Keynes Council - Benefits services inspection
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25 June 2009
The Governor
Click above to view the first issue of a major new publication from HQN – The Governor.
Why have we produced this magazine? It’s simple. Governance is about the most exciting issue in the world today. Pick up any newspaper and it will be chock-full of the failings of leaders. But there are many examples of strong, good governance out there, too. We want to celebrate those – and help you avoid the bear traps.
The Governor is going to be a regular publication – if you want to receive further editions, you need to sign up. Please email your name, job title, organisation and contact details to hqn@hqnetwork.co.uk with the words 'The Governor' in the subject line -
25 June 2009
Positive practice information
Identified at inspection by the Audit Commission
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23 June 2009
Efficiency in housing income management
Network briefing paper by Tony Newman which forms part of a series of HQN briefings on efficiency in social housing
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22 June 2009
Understanding attitudes to tackling economic inequality
Joseph Rowntree research on public attitudes to inequality has tended to focus more on revealing attitudes than exploring what motivates them. This study aims to fill some of the gaps in existing research to provide useful insights for practitioners and policy-makers
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22 June 2009
Extra legal help for struggling homeowners
Housing Minister John Healey has announced more help for families facing repossession of their home with the doubling of extra funding for free, on-the-spot, legal advice in courts
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22 June 2009
Room for improvement: a review of strategic asset management
This report follows up on the Audit Commission report Hot Property (2000), and reveals that councils have made only modest progress in improving the management of their estate - worth an estimated £250 billion in 2008 - over the last ten years. The report also finds central government partly to blame, by sending local government mixed messages: calling on councils to rationalise assets, to improve buildings and offices, and to share assets with the community
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19 June 2009
Growing up in social housing in Britain: A profile of four generations from 1946 to the present day
This Joseph Rowntree study describes how housing for families has changed over time and explores the relationship between social housing, family circumstances and the 'adult outcomes' for children who grew up in social housing – ie, their experiences when they are adults
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19 June 2009
Chartered Institute for Housing conference
Speech by The Rt Hon John Healey MP, Minister for Housing
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19 June 2009
Greater flexibility for planning permissions: Consultation
This consultation invites views on whether to introduce a mechanism for extending the time limits for implementation of existing planning permissions, and to consider how to implement the procedure for making non-material amendments under section 190 of the Planning Act 2008. Consultation closes 13.8.09
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19 June 2009
John Healey: Action to help developers during downturn and build greener buildings
Developers will be given more time to start building and further flexibility to adapt plans, under a package of new measures announced by Housing Minister John Healey to support the industry during these tough economic times
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19 June 2009
Inspection report
Bridgewater Housing Association - The Scottish Housing Regulator has awarded the council a 'good' rating
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18 June 2009
Inspection report
Wealden District Council - Strategic housing services
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18 June 2009
Inspection report
Kingfisher Housing Association - Housing management services
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18 June 2009
Inspection report
Tor Homes - Housing management services
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18 June 2009
Decent Homes - the next steps?
Network briefing by Sheila Camp looks at the aims of the report; 'Towards a successor standard to Decent Homes', the key areas for a new standard, areas to be excluded/tackled locally and the next steps
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17 June 2009
Getting it right, and righting the wrongs - Practitioners' Toolkit
This toolkit is intended to be a practical aid to help councils work with customers and other partners to identify key issues for improvement in both their service provision and systems of redress
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17 June 2009
Getting it right, and righting the wrongs
In Communities in control: real people, real power the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government promised to commission a review into redress for citizens when their council services fail to meet agreed standards. David Cook, Chief Executive of Kettering Borough Council, chaired this independent review and looked at the experience of service and redress provision from the customer's viewpoint
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17 June 2009
Getting it right, and righting the wrongs
Communities Minister Shahid Malik has called on all local councils to get it right first time to ensure the public receive the modern service they expect
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16 June 2009
What does excellence look like? Resident involvement
Network briefing by John Wheeldon looking at the attributes of excellent three star organisations inspected by the Audit Commission in 2007 and 2008. This briefing covers resident involvement
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12 June 2009
Short notice inspection
Aldwyck Housing Association - Capital improvement, planned and cyclical maintenance and major works; Responsive repairs; and void management
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12 June 2009
Number of households accepted as homeless down by more than a quarter
New national figures released today show the number of people accepted as homeless by local authorities is down 26% from the same time last year
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12 June 2009
Inspection report
Redbridge Homes (ALMO) - London Borough of Redbridge
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12 June 2009
Inspection report
Boston Borough Council - Strategic housing inspection
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12 June 2009
Inspection report
West Lindsey District Council - Strategic housing services
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12 June 2009
Inspection report
Rugby Borough Council - Landlord services
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12 June 2009
Appetite for new investment opportunity confirmed by expressions of interest
A new initiative which could see hundreds of millions of pounds worth of new investment into the private rented housing sector has received 64 expressions of interest, the Homes and Communities Agency have announced
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12 June 2009
Statutory Homelessness: 1st Quarter (January to March) 2009, England
The latest national statistics on Statutory Homelessness for the first quarter (January to March) 2009
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11 June 2009
Draft Housing (Scotland) Bill: a commentary
Network briefing by Dave Alexander on the draft Scottish Housing Bill which is the subject of current consultation. The briefing looks at the proposals in detail, and offers a commentary on the consultation questions posed by the government
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11 June 2009
Living Working Countryside: The Government Response to The Taylor Review of Rural Economy and Affordable Housing
Network briefing paper by Vanessa Morton analyses the government’s recent response to the findings of the Taylor Review of Rural Economy and Affordable Housing, Living Working Countryside, published last July
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10 June 2009
State of the nation: homelessness
Network briefing by Sheila Spencer which provides organisations with a round-up of the key issues for local authorities and housing providers when planning how best to prevent and respond to homelessness
Additional files:
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9 June 2009
Country's greenest development gets go ahead
England’s first large-scale development to be built to Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, has been given the green light to move ahead. Barratt Developments Plc and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) have received planning permission to build 195 zero-carbon homes as part of the Hanham Hall ‘eco village’ in South Gloucestershire
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9 June 2009
House Price Index - April 2009
The latest UK house price index statistics produced by Communities and Local Government
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9 June 2009
27,000 tenants help determine the future of social housing
TSA launches the findings of largest ever consultation and proposals for draft standards
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9 June 2009
Inspection report
Berneslai Homes ALMO - Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
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9 June 2009
Inspection report
Stevenage Homes ALMO - Stevenage Borough Council
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4 June 2009
Recession in Wales: nearly half the unemployed are under twenty five
New poverty calculations for Wales show that, as of the latest figures, 45% of unemployed people in Wales are under twenty five. Monitoring poverty and social exclusion in Wales 2009, by the New Policy Institute for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, identifies trends in poverty statistics over the last ten years
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4 June 2009
Short notice inspection
Magna Housing Association - Decent Homes programme and anti-social behaviour
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4 June 2009
Short notice inspection
Pavilion Housing Association - Resident involvement and estate management
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4 June 2009
Neighbourhood Management
Neighbourhood Management is an approach that enables local communities and service providers to work together at a neighbourhood level to improve services and quality of life
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4 June 2009
Impact Assessment of regulation of letting and management agents by an independent body
This Impact Assessment covers the key regulatory proposal in the government's response to the Rugg Review, for the regulation of letting and managment agents by an independent body
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4 June 2009
Impact Assessment of a national register for landlords
This Impact Assessment covers the key regulatory proposal in the government's response to the Rugg Review, for a national register of private sector landlords
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3 June 2009
Domestic abuse and older adults: what should housing providers be doing?
Complimentary ACEnet briefing by Helena Taylor Knox on the difficult subject of domestic abuse
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2 June 2009
Child poverty in Scotland: taking the next steps
This study discusses progress made in Scotland to end child poverty, and suggests what the Scottish Government needs to do to reach the 2020 target
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2 June 2009
Empowering communities to influence local decision making - A systematic review of the evidence
This study used a robust, replicable method to systematically review the domestic and international evidence base around community empowerment. The aim of the review was to make sense of variable and often competing or contrasting evidence in order to identify which mechanisms empower; in what ways, and in what contexts
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2 June 2009
Communities Progress Report
In July 2008 the government published the White Paper Communities in Control: Real People, Real Power which aims to pass power into the hands of local communities. This progress report sets out progress made since the publication of the White Paper and provides a timeline for future implementation
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2 June 2009
Mortgage Rescue Scheme monitoring statistics - April 2009
The Mortgage Rescue Scheme monitoring statistics 'housing live table' gives information on the number of households approaching local authorities with mortgage difficulties and households applying and accepted for the scheme
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2 June 2009
Empowering communities to influence local decision making - Evidence-based lessons for policy makers and practitioners
This CLG report draws on a systematic review of community empowerment to provide evidence-based lessons for policy makers and practitioners
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29 May 2009
Don't get caught in the regulation funding loop
For assistance with board appraisal and training, governance, performance improvement, inspection, business planning, options appraisals and funding solutions HQN is available to help at all stops
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29 May 2009
Short notice inspection report
Sadeh Lok Housing Association Limited - short notice inspection of income management and resident involvement
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29 May 2009
Short notice inspection report
Calico Housing - short notice inspection of responsive repairs and voids/lettings
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29 May 2009
Inspection report
NomadE5 Housing Association - Housing management services
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28 May 2009
Tolerated trespass – moving on
Network briefing by Tim Horsley which explains the legislation in more detail and provides practical tips to help social landlords to comply with the legislation
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26 May 2009
Complaints/compliments toolkit
The Network's popular self-assessment toolkit by Gill Stead
Additional files:
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26 May 2009
Tolerated trespass – the end
Two Statutory Instruments have now been passed in Parliament that finally brought an end to tolerated trespass on Wednesday 20 May 2009. Network briefing by Tim Horsley clarifies and explains the legislation
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26 May 2009
Short notice inspection report
Family Housing Association - short notice inspection of repairs and home improvement services
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26 May 2009
Short notice inspection report
Trident Housing Association - short notice inspection of voids, rent arrears and resident involvement
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26 May 2009
Inspection report
Manchester and District Housing Association - Housing management services
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26 May 2009
Inspection report
Leicester City Council - Housing benefit
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22 May 2009
Planning Policy Statement - Consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Prosperous Economies
This consultation paper seeks views on combining all national planning policy on economic development in urban and rural areas and town centres into one consolidated and streamlined Planning Policy Statement (PPS). Consultation closes 28 July 2009
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22 May 2009
Tolerated Trespassers: Guidance for social landlords
This guidance is designed to support social landlords in implementing the tolerated trespasser provisions in section 299 and Schedule 11 to the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 and the Housing (Replacement of Terminated Tenancies) (Successor Landlords) (England) Order 2009
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22 May 2009
House Building: March Quarter 2009, England
The latest national statistics on house building
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22 May 2009
DSO 3.7: Overall Employment rate (working age population) at neighbourhood level (in deprived areas), England
The data measuring Departmental Strategic Objective 3.7: Overall Employment rate (working age population) at neighbourhood level (in deprived areas) have now been released
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22 May 2009
Code for Sustainable Homes: Technical guide - May 2009
On 13 December 2006, the Code for Sustainable Homes - a new national standard for sustainable design and construction of new homes was launched. This technical guidance sets out the requirements for the Code, and the process by which a Code assessment is reached
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22 May 2009
The Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination 2009-2010 Amending Determination 2009
The Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination 2009-2010 - Amending Determination 2009, together with supporting documentation
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21 May 2009
Success in tackling anti-social behaviour
A major study on intensive family support projects in Scotland led by Professor Hal Pawson and undertaken by Heriot-Watt University and Sheffield Hallam University for the Scottish Government
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19 May 2009
Co-regulation: What does the TSA really mean?
Network briefing by Kate Murray finds out from Peter Marsh, Roy Irwin, and chief executives
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19 May 2009
Councils to lead job creation plans
Councils must be 'fully focused' on providing job creation programmes said Local Government Minister John Healey and Employment Minister Tony McNulty in response to a key economic report
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19 May 2009
Housing for disabled children and their families: an information resource
A Joseph Rowntree Foundation overview of information about housing for disabled children and their families, and ideas for improving their circumstances
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19 May 2009
Building (Amendment) Regulations 2009: New Part G in Schedule 1 and new minimum water efficiency requirements
The purpose of this circular letter is to bring to attention changes in respect of Part G in Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations, and new minimum water efficiency requirements in new dwellings
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19 May 2009
LGBT Housing reports launched
Stonewall Scotland and the Scottish Housing Regulator have jointly launched two guides for social housing providers and homelessness services
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14 May 2009
Housing pathfinders face testing time as recession bites
Places in the North and Midlands, where the government has spent billions attempting to revive the housing market, are being hit hard by the recession and may struggle to recover
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14 May 2009
Building Britain's future - Social enterprise to be part of £1 billion job creation drive
Social enterprises must play their part in tackling the economic downturn by creating at least 15,000 new jobs for the unemployed, funded by the government's £1 billion Future Jobs Fund, announced Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell
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14 May 2009
HCA unveils cavity wall insulation funding
The HCA has published on-line guidance of how social landlords - RSLs, ALMOs and local authorities - can bid for part of the additional £84m housing funding package announced in April’s 2009 budget for cavity wall insulation
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14 May 2009
The private rented sector: professionalism and quality - The government response to the Rugg Review Consultation
In January 2008, the government commissioned the Rugg review to carry out an independent review of the private rented sector. The Review's findings, set out six 'policy directions of travel' of how to raise standards and professionalism in the sector. This paper sets out the government's response and also takes into account the related recommendations made by the Law Commission
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14 May 2009
World class places: The government's strategy for improving quality of place
This strategy lays out why and how quality of place matters and the practical steps the government will be taking to build on the achievements of recent years and do more to create prosperous, attractive, distinctive, inclusive and sustainable world class places
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14 May 2009
John Healey confirms action to protect council taxpayers
Local Government Minister John Healey has confirmed that the government will take action to tackle excessive council tax increases set this year by two police authorities
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14 May 2009
Sadiq Khan - Final chance for your views on government's new race equality strategy
Businesses, charities, voluntary groups and local authorities who have not already contributed to the government's new race equality consultation are asked to come forward and make their views known. Consultation ends 18 May
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14 May 2009
"Promising start" in clearing backlog of unsold housing association homes
Housing associations have made a promising start in clearing the backlog of unsold shared ownership properties, according to the latest figures from the Tenant Services Authority (TSA)
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14 May 2009
TSA publishes a discussion paper on consent to disposals of dwellings under the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008
The discussion paper explains how the new Act has set objectives for TSA and reduced the categories of disposal that require consent. This has prompted the TSA to review their policy on disposals and their use of general consents. Consultation closes 15 June 2009
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14 May 2009
HCA guidance published to help partners with Single Conversation
The HCA has published guidance to help its partners deliver the aims of the agency’s new business process – the Single Conversation - to create affordable, well served, enjoyable and attractive places where people want to live
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14 May 2009
Enhanced hot water safety and efficiency measures for all new homes
All new homes will feature inbuilt protection from hot water scalding in baths and will use water more efficiently under measures announced by Housing Minister Iain Wright
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14 May 2009
Houses in multiple occupation and possible planning responses: Consultation
A consultation document seeking views on three options for addressing the impact of high concentrations of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Consultation closes 7 August 2009
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14 May 2009
Real help for tenants - Margaret Beckett
A major new package of measures to strengthen consumer protections for tenants living in private rented accommodation has been announced by Housing Minister Margaret Beckett
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14 May 2009
Code for Sustainable Homes: Technical guide - May 2009
On 13 December 2006, the Code for Sustainable Homes - a new national standard for sustainable design and construction of new homes was launched. This technical guidance sets out the requirements for the Code, and the process by which a Code assessment is reached. It aims to make gaining a Code assessment as simple, transparent and rigorous as possible
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13 May 2009
The Scottish Government’s agenda for funding new affordable housing: The Affordable Housing Investment Reform Project
Network briefing by HQN Associate Anna Evans, summarises the presentations at HQN’s recent conference which explored the Scottish Government’s agenda for affordable housing
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12 May 2009
Social Lettings Tables - adjusted for missing local authority landlord data - 2007/08
These CLG tables give information about the characteristics of households receiving general needs social lettings in 2007-08
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12 May 2009
Park Home Site licensing - Improving the Management of Residential Park Home Sites: Consultation
This consultation builds upon decisions about proposals taken following an earlier consultation in 2005 and sets out for further consideration how a new licensing system might look. Consultation closes 4 August 2009
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12 May 2009
House Price Index - March 2009
The latest UK house price index statistics produced by Communities and Local Government
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12 May 2009
Count of Gypsy and Traveller Caravans - January 2009
The bi-annual Count of Gypsy and Traveller Caravans takes place twice a year and records the number of caravans on both authorised and unauthorised sites across England
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12 May 2009
Right to enfranchise (RTE) provisions: a consultation
This CLG consultation paper sets out the issues that have arisen in relation to the implementation of the Right to Enfranchise (RTE) provisions in the 2002 Act. Its aim is to seek views on the options that have been identified for how these could be dealt with and the proposal for the non-implementation and repeal of these provisions. Consultation closes 3 August 2009
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12 May 2009
New government vision for regeneration sector
A new framework for regeneration that will help the sector push through the downturn has been announced by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears in a speech to the British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA)
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11 May 2009
Housing Benefit toolkit for social housing providers
The Network's popular self-assessment toolkit by Sue Beasor
Additional files:
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8 May 2009
HCA unveils housing package details
The HCA has published on-line guidance of how developers and local authorities can bid for two elements of the additional £635m housing funding package announced in April’s Budget
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8 May 2009
Housing and Planning Key Facts - May 2009
This CLG quick reference leaflet is published quarterly and contains a snapshot of the main housing and planning data. Detailed housing and planning data may be found in the live tables
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7 May 2009
Mayor of London and HCA invest £16m to 'kick start' development
The HCA London Board, chaired by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has agreed to invest over £16m in the latest two projects from its programme to ‘kick start’ developments in London that have been affected by the economic downturn
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7 May 2009
Proposed changes to the delivery of local authorities' and FRAs' freedoms and flexibilities after the introduction of CAA
This CLG consultation paper, aimed at English local authorities and fire and rescue authorities, their partners and stakeholders, includes proposals to reduce or simplify the requirement to create plans for central government on issues such as local transport, youth justice and air quality; extend the power to trade for profit to all English councils and fire and rescue authorities, enabling them to offer a broad range of services such as in building, highways and vehicle maintenance; and allow councils to spend any income from environmental fixed penalty notices as they see fit
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7 May 2009
Long-term plans for growth in the South East unveiled
A strategy for delivering the new homes, jobs and infrastructure the South East needs until 2026 has been announced by Communities Minister Sadiq Khan
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7 May 2009
Planning Policy Statement - Consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Prosperous Economies
This consultation paper seeks views on combining all national planning policy on economic development in urban and rural areas and town centres into one consolidated and streamlined Planning Policy Statement (PPS). Closing date for the consultation is 28.7.09
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7 May 2009
Hazel Blears: Local people key to unlocking greater savings
Councils must listen to the views of local people to work smarter and make greater efficiency savings, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has announced
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7 May 2009
Loan Portfolio Return 2009
The Loan Portfolio system is now open for 2009 submissions. It will remain open until the end of September and data should be submitted, as normal, using the online system
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7 May 2009
Councils need to improve their asset management
An Audit Scotland report, asset management in local government, looks at how councils manage their property assets. It says that only around half of the local authorities have a council-wide strategy for this and although there is some good management information available it is not always used to support decision-making
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7 May 2009
It's time to get real... Use mystery shopping and reality checking to check what your services are really like
Whether you are preparing for inspection or looking to drive service improvement, HQN offers a cost effective, credible and independent health check of your front line housing services designed to complement your existing performance management mechanisms and quality checks
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6 May 2009
Supporting or evicting – the best way to manage arrears in the current economic climate
Network briefing by Sheila Stubbins looks at the potential effects of the current economic climate on social housing arrears
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5 May 2009
Positive practice information
Identified at inspection by the Audit Commission
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1 May 2009
Inspection report
Wycombe District Council - Strategic housing service
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1 May 2009
Inspection report
North Devon District Council - Strategic housing service
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1 May 2009
Inspection report
Adactus Housing Association - Housing management service
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1 May 2009
Short notice inspection report
Sadeh Lok Housing Association Limited - Short notice inspection of income management and resident involvement
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1 May 2009
Short notice inspection report
Raglan Housing Association Limited - Short notice inspection of responsive repairs, repairs to empty homes, and gas servicing
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29 April 2009
Funky office pads complete in the Ouseburn Valley
A derelict industrial area in Newcastle’s Ouseburn Valley has been brought back to life by regeneration specialist Priority Sites with its speculative 23,668 sq ft office development
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29 April 2009
Sustainable Communities Act 2007: Local Spending Report England 2006-07
The Sustainable Communities Act 2007 places a requirement on the Secretary of State to make arrangements for the production of local spending reports. On 20 February 2009 CLG launched a consultation on the first arrangements. This is the first report which has been developed with regard to responses to the consultation
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29 April 2009
Delivering Digital Inclusion: Summary of consultation responses
This report contains the findings from the analysis of the consultation
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29 April 2009
Hazel Blears backs 'revolution to recycle' buildings
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has unveiled a series of measures to back a people's revolution to recycle buildings by putting real power in the hands of locals to support communities during the downturn and beyond
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29 April 2009
Call on councils to help more young people into work
A £1 billion fund to stimulate councils' efforts to help people into work was hailed today as Ministers called on organisations to submit innovative bids for jobs that will make Britain a better place and improve their local community
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28 April 2009
Efficiency in asset management
Network briefing by Rob McNaughton looks at how organisations can achieve efficiency when dealing with existing housing stock
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28 April 2009
Guidance for short notice inspections
Network briefing by HQN associate, Ellis Blackmore, which includes ideas for the development of outcome focussed self assessment, and invites feedback on good practice which can be shared with other organisations
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24 April 2009
Inspection report
Christchurch Borough Council - Strategic housing service
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24 April 2009
Inspection report
Freebridge Community Housing - Housing management service
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24 April 2009
Inspection report
Arun District Council - Strategic housing service
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24 April 2009
Benefits inspection report
Redditch Borough Council - Benefits service
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24 April 2009
Inspection report
Waveney District Council - Strategic housing service re-inspection
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24 April 2009
Inspection report
Clapham Park Homes - Landlord service
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24 April 2009
Short notice inspection report
Aldwyck Housing Association Limited -
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24 April 2009
Inspection report
Norwich City Council - Landlord service
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21 April 2009
Forty flood-hit families returning home each week
Efforts to get families back home following the 2007 summer floods continue at pace with almost 40 families returning home each week and many councils predicting that everyone in their area will be back in the next couple of months according to Floods Recovery Minister John Healey
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21 April 2009
Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs)
Report finds that LSPs have 'important lessons to learn from one another'
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21 April 2009
Guide to Homeowners Mortgage Support
This leaflet gives information about Homeowners Mortgage Support (HMS) and explains where to get more information
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21 April 2009
Inspiring Communities Grant programme: Information pack for applicants
Central government is seeking applications from neighbourhood partnerships who would like to participate in the new Inspiring Communities grant programme, which is about raising the aspirations and educational attainment of local young people
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21 April 2009
Housing associations to note change to the gas safety law
The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) has asked housing associations to note a major change in gas safety, which came into effect on 1 April 2009
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20 April 2009
Inspection report
Swindon Borough Council - Housing Benefit
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20 April 2009
Shift in the attitudes and behaviours of housing and regeneration organisations during the downturn
A second poll released today by the HCA Academy, the skills and expertise arm of the Homes and Communities Agency, has found a significant increase in the number of housing and regeneration professionals admitting to mounting concern about the recession
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20 April 2009
Rural Affordable Housing project launched
A new initiative to provide support and advice to local authorities and their partners on the delivery of rural affordable housing has now been launched
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20 April 2009
Should adult benefit for unemployment now be raised?
A Joseph Rowntree review of arguments for and against raising the value of Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA)
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20 April 2009
Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS): Treatment of service charges for residential property
This guidance is for leaseholders and tenants paying service charges but will also be of interest to landlords, managing agents, resident management companies and others charged with the collection of service charge monies
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20 April 2009
Summary Report: Understanding Muslim Ethnic Communities
This report synthesises the findings of separate research and reports on 13 Muslim ethnic communities in England undertaken for Communities and Local Government in 2008
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20 April 2009
Draft amending HRA Subsidy Determination relating to administration of rent reduction
Complimentary hf:expert technical briefing by Hilary Vaughan following the latest clarification from CLG which came out the day before the Easter break
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17 April 2009
House Price index – February 2009
The latest UK house price index statistics produced by CLG based on mortgage completions during the month of February 2009
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17 April 2009
Home and Community Energy Advisors
Notice by CLG that adverts for courses relating to Home Energy Advisors and Community Energy Advisers are premature. National Occupational Standards are being developed and there is currently a consultation exercise running for the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) initiative and the Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP). It will not be possible to finalise the role of these advisers and the qualification until after the consultation exercise has been concluded
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16 April 2009
Inspection report
Drum Housing Association - Housing Management Service
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16 April 2009
Inspection report
Northumberland County Council - Supporting People
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16 April 2009
Homes and Communities Agency delivers despite downturn
Preliminary end of year results show that the HCA delivered some 50,000 new, affordable homes across England and hit its target to invest £3.9bn on its national housing and regeneration programme in 2008/09. Despite the downturn the agency has been able to increase the number of completed rental and low cost home ownership (LCHO) properties as well as the number of rental starts compared with last financial year
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16 April 2009
Diverse interventions – our single equality scheme
Homes and Communities Agency consultation paper sets out the Homes and Communities Agency’s vision for the delivery of equality, diversity and cohesion for the next two years. Feedback on the draft scheme by completing an on line survey is requested by midday on Thursday 21 May 2009
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15 April 2009
Inspection report
Swindon Borough Council - Benefits service
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15 April 2009
Real help for North West and North East through £12m Moneymadeclear service pathfinder
HM Treasury and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) today launched Moneymadeclear, a service offering practical and impartial help and information on money matters for people in the North East and North West of England. The new service aims to help people tackle their money worries and make informed financial decisions with confidence, whether it’s avoiding debt problems, coping with a change in circumstances, or preparing for the future
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15 April 2009
Planning Act 2008: Impact Assessment of transitional/savings provisions for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs)
This impact assessment considers whether transitional provisions are needed for a limited period after the new planning regime commences, so that consultations already carried out do not need to be repeated solely for the purpose of compliance
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15 April 2009
Housing allocations: Members of the Armed Forces
This circular provides guidance for local authorities when framing their allocation scheme to provide for applications from serving and former members of the Armed Forces and gives effect to a commitment in a command paper issued by the Ministry of Defence in July 2008. Housing authorities are required to have regard to the guidance in exercising their functions under Part 6 of the 1996 Act
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15 April 2009
Short notice inspection
Family Housing Association Birmingham Limited - short notice inspection of repairs and home improvement services
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14 April 2009
Demonstrating sustainability of housing organisations
Network briefing by Richard Lupo describes the benefit of demonstrating sustainability for a social housing provider
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9 April 2009
Home Information Packs: Guidance for Enforcement Officers
CLG guidance on the Home Information Pack duties in the Housing Act 2004 and secondary legislation made under the Act is aimed primarily at those who have responsibility for enforcing the duties under the Act, including local authority trading standards officers and the Office of Fair Trading
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9 April 2009
Low cost home ownership and the credit crunch
TSA study exploring the nature of regional markets for low-cost home ownership offered by housing associations since the downturn. It also clarifies the impact of private developer shared equity schemes on housing associations and the degree to which they are competing with these schemes
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9 April 2009
LinkAge Plus: Capacity building – enabling and empowering older people as independent and active citizens
DWP report evaluating a pilot of LinkAge Plus, a programme that has brought local authorities together with their partners in health and the voluntary and community sector to find innovative ways to break down traditional organisational and financial barriers and to join up services for older people
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9 April 2009
Securing Homes - Action Against Burglary
Home Office Action Plan that sets out details of the Securing Homes programme. The Action Plan is supported by £15m funding for 2009/10
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8 April 2009
Overcoming poverty and its links to place
Network briefing paper, by Chris Bowen, explains the background to poverty and social mobility and how various factors influence people’s ability to achieve their full potential in life
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7 April 2009
The methodology to be used for the pilot of short notice inspections in local authority housing services and ALMOs has been published
In October 2008 the Audit Commission launched a consultation exercise on proposals for short notice inspections of local authority housing services and arm’s length management organisations (ALMOs). In light of responses to that consultation, the methodology to be used in a pilot programme of inspections is now published
There will be a programme of up to eight pilot inspections running from March to July 2009. These will be focused on councils and ALMOs that have volunteered to take part. The outcomes from this programme will be considered by the Audit Commission Board later in the year to decide whether short notice inspections of local authorities and ALMOs should feature in the forward programme of housing inspections -
7 April 2009
The Open Market Shared Equity Pilot scheme
This guidance contains detailed operational administrative procedures for registered social landlords or their wholly-owned subsidiaries (“registered social landlords”) and the Scottish Government on the operation of the Open Market Shared Equity pilot scheme
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7 April 2009
Councils to develop new ways to keep their citizens better informed
A mix of councils in rural and urban areas are sharing £620,000 to pilot schemes that provide better local information for an estimated one million people, ranging from crime maps in Gloucestershire to a website for parents and carers of disabled children in Cambridgeshire
Chapter 3 of the 2008 White Paper, Communities in Control: Real People, Real Power, published in July 2008, set out how the government would help local authorities to provide better information to their citizens on local services, performance and opportunities to get involved in their local areas. The Timely Information to Citizens project was set up to take this forward
A second round of pilots will be announced in May. The majority of pilots are expected to be up and running by summer 2009 and will be subjected to an independent evaluation which will report in 2010, feeding back the lessons learnt into the good practice toolkit for the benefit of other local authorities -
7 April 2009
Development prospects
Summary of a presentation provided by Anna Evans on housing development prospects given at HQN’s Scottish spring 2009 conference
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7 April 2009
Help for disabled homeowners
A nationwide scheme which helps disabled people carry out essential home adaptations has been enhanced. Changes arising from the implementation of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 will trigger a simpler and fairer system of financial help. For people assessed as needing essential adaptations, local authorities must give a grant of 80% of the cost, or 100% for people on the lowest incomes. There are no longer any arbitrary limits on the amount of grant that can be provided
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7 April 2009
Scottish Government publications
Reid Howie Associates was commissioned by the Scottish Government in Summer 2008 to carry out an evaluation of a pilot advice service on disability issues provided by Ownership Options for Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) taking part in Scottish Executive (now Scottish Government) funded shared equity provision in Scotland. The pilot service provided advice, support and guidance to RSLs across Scotland, to try to maximise the impact of the development of the 'Homestake' shared equity schemes on the housing circumstances of disabled people. The evaluation took place from June - August 2008
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7 April 2009
Department for Work and Pensions - Adjudication and operations circulars 2009
This page gives links to all DWP's adjudication and operations circulars for 2009. It is aimed at all housing benefit and council tax benefit staff
The following circular has been added:
A10/2009: The Social Security (Use of Information for Housing Benefit and Welfare Services Purposes) Regulations 2008 -
7 April 2009
Gypsies/Travellers in Scotland: The Twice Yearly Count - No. 14: July 2008
Gypsies/Travellers in Scotland - the Twice yearly count - No. 14: July 2008
Published 31 March 2009 -
7 April 2009
The SPP sets out the Scottish Government's planning policy on different types of development and on environmental issues
Consultation has begun on the new Scottish Planning Policy (SPP). It sets out the Scottish Government's planning policy on different types of development and on environmental issues. This new, shorter SPP will replace seventeen existing policy documents, making policy easier to understand and interpret. The deadline for written responses to this consultation paper is Wednesday 24 June
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7 April 2009
Further help for first time buyers
The Open Market Shared Equity Pilot scheme is being expanded from ten council areas to the whole of Scotland. A substantially increased budget of £60m - up from £24m - is expected to help around 1,500 households to buy through the scheme this year. The scheme is part of the Scottish Government's Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers, to help people on low to moderate incomes buy an affordable home where that is sustainable for them
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7 April 2009
Early warning on homelessness
From the 1 April 2009, councils across Scotland have to be notified of any families facing the threat of homelessness through eviction or repossession. The Homelessness (Scotland) Act 2003 require landlords and creditors to inform the local authority when they take action to recover property or call in a mortgage. The aim is to prevent homelessness by allowing a council to contact affected households with the offer of appropriate support, including money advice
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7 April 2009
Circular 03/09: Costs awards in appeals and other planning proceedings
This circular provides updated guidance on the award of costs in England in proceedings under the Planning Acts. It compliments legislative amendments designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the planning appeals system. The guidance in this circular applies to appeals made and other proceedings initiated on or after 6 April 2009




