This Update includes the following
CWAG Members Survey 2023
This year the annual members survey focussed on how councils and their ALMOs are responding to the introduction of enhanced consumer regulation. The survey aimed to explore how different organisations are preparing for the changes, highlighting the specific issues and challenges involved, with the aim of identifying key trends and sharing good practice.
The survey response rate was 86%. Survey returns provide useful insights into the sector’s preparations in advance of new regulatory arrangements which are due to go live in April 2024. The CWAG Client Officer Group will be reviewing the survey in more detail at their next meeting. In the meantime if you would like more information on the survey, please contact the Policy Officer.
Set out below are some of the headline findings from the survey:
Survey Findings
1. ALMO Reviews
Most CWAG member councils have reviewed or are planning to review their ALMO management arrangement. Reviews are generally focused on ensuring council and ALMO services are better aligned, with responsibilities and reporting lines clearly defined.
- 16% of respondents are currently undertaking a review of the ALMO,
- 74% of respondents reported a recent or planned ALMO review,
- 10% of respondents are not planning a review at this time.
2. Changes to the Client Team
42% of respondents are recruiting additional staff to strengthen the client team whilst others reported that they are reassessing client-side resources and current roles, including how existing staff are deployed.
Virtually all authorities reported that they are reviewing and augmenting data collection and reporting arrangements. Issues include enabling real time reporting and regularising enhanced senior level scrutiny and oversight arrangements.
Some councils are reviewing certain functions currently delegated to the ALMO, but this is not a general trend.
3. Changes to reporting and accountability structures
Authorities are also reviewing existing systems and reporting arrangement, making changes to improve information flows, oversight, and assurance. Councils are looking critically at each element of performance and how they are getting assurance.
Current examples include:
- Specialist governance and systems reviews
- Additional internal audit checks with a focus on consumer standards
- Bringing KPIs into alignment with TSMs
- Additional information and reporting for Council Members
- New Council /ALMO structures to review key elements of performance.
- Use of council scrutiny and audit panel
4. Collection of Tenant Perception Information for TSMs
The survey highlights different approaches to the collection of tenant perception information. 61% of respondents indicate that this exercise will be undertaken by a specialist contractor. Arrangements vary with some councils leading on the commissioning arrangements in partnership with the ALMO whilst others have fully delegated this activity to the ALMO.
5.Preparation for In-Depth Assessments (IDAs)
78% of respondents indicated that they have used the checklist from the CWAG/NFA report ‘Excellence in management and partnership’ to review their current arrangements in preparing for changes to regulation.
26% of respondents have commissioned an external ‘health check’ as part of their IDA preparations.
Parliamentary Committee to investigate financial sustainability of social housing sector
On 28th March 2023 the Levelling Up Housing and Communities Committee launched an enquiry, including a call for evidence, into the financial resilience of the social housing sector in England.
This follows the Committee’s earlier ‘Regulation of social housing’ report (July 2022) which identified evidence of ‘appalling and unsafe’ conditions in some social housing. The aim of this enquiry is to examine the financial resilience and resources available to the sector given the increasingly challenging operating environment.
Issues that will be considered include the impact of inflation, high energy costs and other funding challenges. Social landlords are facing significant pressures to increase investment in the maintenance and improvement of their existing stock. A key concern is the extent to which tackling issues such as damp and mould, energy efficiency, fixing defects and delivering on new building and fire safety regulations will impact on the delivery of much needed new affordable homes.
The enquiry will also consider the policy and regulatory challenges facing DLUHC and the Regulator of Social Housing in ensuring policy on social and affordable housing is appropriately focussed and adequately addressing the diverse issues and challenges facing the sector.
Call for evidence – submissions to the Enquiry can be made up to 12th May 2023.
Older Person’s Housing Taskforce
Proposals for an Older Persons Housing Taskforce set out in the Levelling Up White Paper (February 2022) look set to get underway with the recent appointment of Professor Julienne Meyer, a leading expert on care for older people as the taskforce Chair.
The new taskforce will run for around 12 months; it will report and make recommendations to Government on improving the choice, quality, and security of housing for older people. It will also consider evidence relating to regional disparities in the supply of appropriate and specialised housing for older persons.
The taskforce will bring together expertise from the social housing and retirement sector, local government, health, and adult social care as well as investment specialists and developers.
4 Million Homes Programme
Following the earlier Make Things Right campaign, the 4 Million Homes Programme is a further DLUHC funded initiative which aims raise tenant awareness of their rights and rebalance power between residents and landlords.
Programme publicity emphasises that it will help tenants stand up for their rights and where necessary provide guidance on how to deal with difficult landlords. Tenants will also gain knowledge on how to form and get involved in residents groups to influence and shape the services they pay for.
The programme will provide information, guidance, and training on residents rights. Training events will begin in May 2023 and run over 24 months starting with ‘Exploring your right to engage and be heard’, advising residents of their rights and how to make complaints.
The campaign website www.fourmillionhomes.org signposts guidance, training events and webinars.
Diary Date - Finance and Business Planning Meeting – Tuesday 6th June 2023
Steve Partridge – Savills Director of Housing Consultancy will be leading this event for finance officers and others with an interest in HRA strategy and business planning. This will be an interactive meeting focussing on issues for the next budgeting and business planning round.
The event is a free event that is open to CWAG members – please note the date in your diary. Booking arrangements will available shortly.
Recent Publications
Research into Expenditure within the Housing Revenue Account - LGA, ARCH, NFA
This is the third and final Savills research report commissioned by the LGA, ARCH and the NFA as part of a wider examination of the financial issues and pressures facing Housing Revenue Accounts. The report looks in detail at the specific factors currently driving the growing disparity between available resources and increasing financial demands. The report highlights the vulnerability of HRAs which are likely to move into deficit over the next couple of years.
The report is available to download from the NFA website.