By Neil Merrick
06 August 2009
Councils are continuing to ignore their strategic housing role and its potential impact on the local economy, according to the Audit Commission.
A major report by the commission on strategic housing services, to be published next month, will be highly critical of local authorities. This week, the commission anticipated the report’s findings by announcing plans to update the Key Line of Enquiry used for inspections. The aim is to make it reflect better the ways housing can influence economic development and other local issues.
Around 85 councils have had their strategic housing services inspected in the past four years. Roy Irwin, director of housing and economic development, told Public Finance they generally showed that councils were ‘not that hot’ on strategic thinking. ‘Quite a few inspections were poor. Some were fair,’ he said.
A study by the commission seven years ago showed councils that transfer homes to a housing association and are no longer social landlords were less likely to see the importance of housing strategy. ‘Part of the problem could still be that, if councils are not a landlord, they don’t think they are a housing authority,’ he added.
Inspectors already focus their attention on authorities that are thought to overlook housing strategy. In future, they will take a more holistic view and check if councils are using their powers to ‘drive forward a tangible housing vision’ for their area.
By updating the Kloe for housing strategy, the commission argues that inspections will be more closely aligned to the Comprehensive Area Assessment framework introduced in April.
06 August 2009
Councils are continuing to ignore their strategic housing role and its potential impact on the local economy, according to the Audit Commission.
A major report by the commission on strategic housing services, to be published next month, will be highly critical of local authorities. This week, the commission anticipated the report’s findings by announcing plans to update the Key Line of Enquiry used for inspections. The aim is to make it reflect better the ways housing can influence economic development and other local issues.
Around 85 councils have had their strategic housing services inspected in the past four years. Roy Irwin, director of housing and economic development, told Public Finance they generally showed that councils were ‘not that hot’ on strategic thinking. ‘Quite a few inspections were poor. Some were fair,’ he said.
A study by the commission seven years ago showed councils that transfer homes to a housing association and are no longer social landlords were less likely to see the importance of housing strategy. ‘Part of the problem could still be that, if councils are not a landlord, they don’t think they are a housing authority,’ he added.
Inspectors already focus their attention on authorities that are thought to overlook housing strategy. In future, they will take a more holistic view and check if councils are using their powers to ‘drive forward a tangible housing vision’ for their area.
By updating the Kloe for housing strategy, the commission argues that inspections will be more closely aligned to the Comprehensive Area Assessment framework introduced in April.
