25 April 2003
Local authority housing departments will no longer undergo an annual performance assessment under a new funding regime coming into force next year.
Although regional government offices must be told how councils intend to meet the decent homes standard, appraisal of housing services will be covered by Best Value inspections and authority-wide Comprehensive Performance Assessments.
Further details of how funding will operate once regional housing boards are established across England emerged in a document published on April 16 by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Boards will be responsible for capital funding of councils and housing associations from 2004/05.
Under the new system, boards will be required to publish regional housing strategies. Instead of stating that affordable housing is a priority, boards will, for example, have to set out the percentage of funds that will go towards affordable housing in their region.
The ODPM said ministers will be 'guided' by recommendations from regional boards when it comes to making funding allocations.
PFapr2003
