Housing Monthly Diary Archive

Agencies, Commissions, Consultants Etc.

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February 1998
News in Brief

• Following its operational merger with the National Housing and Town Planning Council, the Housing Centre Trust moved to 14-18 Old Street, London, EC1V 9AB (Tel. 0171 251 2363).

• Plans were put in hand to launch the Big Issue in the United States, with its base to be located in Los Angeles. The magazine, which widely supports the homeless, was already being published in Australia and South Africa, as well as the domestic editions.

August 1998
News in Brief

• The Empty Homes Agency asked the Audit Commission to investigate the amount of money spent by local authorities and housing associations in boarding up empty homes, estimated to be nearly £500 million each year. The action prompted a number of sharp responses - some pointing out the limitations imposed on social housing by successive funding regimes.

• A number of reports suggested that the Audit Commission was actively looking at options for contracting out its responsibilities for the new housing inspectorate, either through franchising or secondment arrangements - possibly to the benefit of housing consultants. The Commission also confirmed that it was considering the feasibility of charging local authorities for inspection costs. The announcement of the limited budget for the service, with a £2 million ceiling, was understood to have been a significant influencing factor.

• In a separate development, the Audit Commission admitted that fees charged to local authorities might have to increase, to cover the cost of District Auditor John Magill's defence in the appeal against the £27 million surcharge levied on Dame Shirley Porter and others in the Westminster CC homes for votes case.

March 1999
New Housing Award Launched

The Andy Ludlow Memorial Award for innovative housing projects in London was launched by the London Housing Unit and the Association of London Government. The memorial award remembers the achievements of Andy Ludlow, the late Director of Housing in Haringey, who was particularly known for his work in homelessness.

The award is for projects, services or initiatives which show creativity and innovation and also show either:

• how co-ordination between Housing, Social Services and Health improves service delivery to a range of vulnerable homeless groups; or

• how homelessness is being prevented; or

• how multi-agency working delivers a range of services to homeless households.

As it encourages multi-agency working, the award is open to all Housing and Social Services departments, NHS Trust authorities, registered social landlords, as well as all voluntary sector organisations working in the Homelessness/Social Services field in the London area.

It is intended that the award will be an annual event, with winners announced in mid-June.

The closing date for this year's award was 28th May; further details are available from Rangan Momen: Tel. 0171 428 4918.

May 1999
New Campaign Group Launched

The official launch took place of ROOM, following the merger of the National Housing and Town Planning Council and the Housing Centre Trust. With around 1,000 members - comprising builders, planners and social landlords, as well as representatives from business and community organisations - the new campaign group aims to provide a forum for those concerned about housing, planning and regeneration.

ROOM's regional structure facilitates campaigning on regeneration issues. Its lobbying agenda includes:

• More effective planning.

• A comprehensive housing strategy.

• Improving funding for social housing.

• Raising housing standards.

• Striking the right balance of brownfield and greenfield developments.

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