Welcome to HQN and The Housing Quality Network

   

Rent

• Rent guidance for 2010-11

  18 November 2009

  The TSA has published today a notice covering the guideline limit for rents

• HQN annual conference

  25 August 2009

  Network briefing by Kate Murray details each of the presentations at this year's HQN annual conference

• Efficiency in housing income management

  23 June 2009

  Network briefing paper by Tony Newman which forms part of a series of HQN briefings on efficiency in social housing

• Tolerated trespass – moving on

  28 May 2009

  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

• Tolerated trespass – the end

  26 May 2009

  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

• Supporting or evicting – the best way to manage arrears in the current economic climate

  6 May 2009

  Network briefing by Sheila Stubbins looks at the potential effects of the current economic climate on social housing arrears

 

Governance

• Strengthening Local Democracy

  9 February 2010

  Summary of responses

• Local Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny) Bill

  4 February 2010

  Impact assessment

• The TSA's proposed governance standard

  3 February 2010

  Network briefing by Steve Wood

• Cross-domain regulation

  8 October 2009

  Network briefing by Kate Murray looks at how the government proposes LAs should be regulated by the TSA

• The Governor

  6 October 2009

  The second issue of HQN's magazine for boards, executives and leaders

• To see ourselves as others see us - but first

  22 June 2009

  How good is your board? Test yourself in our quick online quiz for board members. Follow the link to our HQN governance self-assessment toolkit with a foreword from Peter Marsh of the TSA

• HQN consultancy services: Good governance - why it matters

  13 October 2008

  HQN is the largest consultancy in the UK focused exclusively on the social housing sector. If you want to make a real improvement to your governance arrangements or simply want to check how well you're doing in relation to the sector's best, our team can help

• Governance and Accountability for Local Councils

  22 September 2008

  The Governance and Accountability for Local Councils: A Practitioners Guide 2008 (Wales) has been jointly issued by One Voice Wales and the Society of Local Council Clerks. The guide has been prepared in response to the need for a clear statement on ‘proper practices’ for both day-to-day practitioners and auditors, internal and external

• Risk management plans vital for housing association boards, says Housing Corporation Chairman

  17 June 2008

  Housing Corporation Chairman Peter Dixon has sent a letter to all housing association chairs urging them to have extensive risk management plans in place to deal with the current conditions within the credit and housing markets

• Community Gateway briefing

  27 May 2008

  Case study briefing by Paul Roberts explores why this approach was taken, looks at their model, community empowerment and what the future holds for Preston’s community gateway model

 

PIs and benchmarking

• Analysis of 2007/08 Housing Corporation performance indicators for housing associations in England

  4 September 2009

  Network briefing by Clive Hall which compares the median scores for a group of performance indicators (PIs) collected by the Housing Corporation (HC) for 2007/08. It divides the results by class of association and, where possible, compares the results to those of earlier years

• Analysis of 2006/07 Housing Corporation performance indicators for housing associations in England

  16 October 2008

  Network briefing by Clive Hall and Doug Edmonds, shows continuing improvements in void management and rent collection

 

Equalities issues

• Tackling race inequality: A statement on race

  2 February 2010

  CLG strategy for tackling race inequalities and how it fits in with the wider agendas on equalities and fairness

• Aids and adaptations toolkit – second edition

  2 February 2010

  By Joanna Jeffery and Richard Seager

  Additional files:

  • Word version for completion purposes

• The TSA’s equality and diversity requirements

  1 February 2010

  Network briefing by Joanna Jeffery and Richard Seager

• Violence against women and girls

  28 January 2010

  Network briefing by Tim Horsley

• Meeting the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers – a round-up of recent policy and other developments

  19 January 2010

  Briefing by Wendy Murphy

• Tackling race inequality: A statement on race

  15 January 2010

  This document sets out Communities and Local Government's strategy for tackling race inequalities and how it fits in with the wider agendas on equalities and fairness

• TSA launches diversity plan

  15 January 2010

  The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) have set out how its plans to promote equality and good relations for social housing landlords and tenants in England with the launch of its first ever Single equalities scheme and supporting action plan

• Creating a Single Equality Scheme for 2010-13

  5 January 2010

  Consultation closing date 28 February 2010

• Count of Gypsy and Traveller Caravans

  11 December 2009

  The July 2009 bi-annual Count of Gypsy and Traveller Caravans

• Creating a Single Equality Scheme for 2010-13

  8 December 2009

  Consultation closes 28 February 2010

• Unshakeable commitment from government to tackle race equality and social mobility

  3 December 2009

  Speech by John Denham

• Count of Gypsy and Traveller Caravans

  25 November 2009

  July 2009

• HCA sets out commitment to equality and diversity

  25 November 2009

  Which outlines the specific ways in which the Agency will deliver its vision for equality, diversity and cohesion, both as an employer and strategic partner

• Housing market renewal and community cohesion

  23 October 2009

  This paper considers to what extent Pathfinders recognise and respond to the community cohesion challenges they face and to what extent community cohesion concerns have been mainstreamed into strategic thinking across Pathfinder activities

• Connecting communities

  16 October 2009

  Speech by The Rt Hon John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

• Balanced Scorecard for Outreach Services: Report on Pilot Project

  11 September 2009

  The Outreach Balanced Scorecard has been commissioned by CLG, London Borough of Southwark and Thames Reach. It aims to provide local authority commissioners with a framework through which they can assess the quality and effectiveness of local outreach services

• The economic case for cohesion

  12 August 2009

  This study looks at the available evidence on the economic benefits of building coheison. It reviews evidence for crime, fear of crime, education, employment, health and economic investment

• The Bradford community guide: a guide to community and development projects

  11 August 2009

  An overview of development projects and community initiatives across the Bradford district, updated August 2009

• Guidance for local authorities on how to mainstream community cohesion into other services

  4 August 2009

  This CLG guidance provides evidence and arguments which can be used by local authorities as a basis for mainstreaming or embedding community cohesion in other areas of service delivery and with other local organisations

• Gypsy and Traveller Site Management Good Practice Guide

  17 July 2009

  This document provides good practice guidance on all facets of managing Gypsy and Traveller sites. It is intended to help new and existing managers maintain well-run and sustainable sites which provide a safe environment for residents and their families

• Progress Report on Gypsy and Traveller Policy

  17 July 2009

  This publication provides an overview of government policy on increasing site provision and measures available to address unauthorised encampment and development

• HQN briefing on the Equality Bill and the Equality Framework for Local Government

  30 June 2009

  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

• Domestic abuse and older adults: what should housing providers be doing?

  3 June 2009

  Complimentary ACEnet briefing by Helena Taylor Knox on the difficult subject of domestic abuse

• Housing for disabled children and their families: an information resource

  19 May 2009

  A Joseph Rowntree Foundation overview of information about housing for disabled children and their families, and ideas for improving their circumstances

• Sadiq Khan - Final chance for your views on government's new race equality strategy

  14 May 2009

  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

• Park Home Site licensing - Improving the Management of Residential Park Home Sites: Consultation

  12 May 2009

  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

• Count of Gypsy and Traveller Caravans - January 2009

  12 May 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

• Inspiring Communities Grant programme: Information pack for applicants

  21 April 2009

  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

• Summary Report: Understanding Muslim Ethnic Communities

  20 April 2009

  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

• Diverse interventions – our single equality scheme

  16 April 2009

  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

• Delivering Mixed Communities - Learning the Lessons from Existing Programmes

  30 March 2009

  The Mixed Communities Initiative (MCI) was announced in January 2005, as a new and more comprehensive approach to tackling area disadvantage, bringing together housing and neighbourhood renewal strategies to reduce concentrations of deprivation, stimulate economic development and improve public services. This report encompasses in-depth work across ten different estate and area based transformation programmes

• Government publishes guidance for realising the potential of faith buildings

  25 March 2009

  The government and the Church of England has published 'Churches and Faith Buildings: Realising the Potential', to help all faith groups find resources to make faith buildings more sustainable by enhancing the facilities and services they offer to local communities

• Government announces £70m fund to support communities with migration

  23 March 2009

  Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith have announced details of a new multi million pound fund to support communities in managing local pressures from migration

• Empowering community leaders

  19 March 2009

  Cohesion Minister Sadiq Khan today announced the names and details of 32 projects across the country which will share in money from the Preventing Violent Extremism Community Leadership Fund (CLF)

• Tackling race inequalities: A CLG discussion document

  4 March 2009

  The government is seeking views on priorities for its future work and strategy to tackle race inequalities. This publication sets out a series of questions on our future approach for people to consider and reply to

• Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society: A third progress report

  27 February 2009

  Launched in January 2005, Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society sets out the government's commitment to create strong cohesive communities in which every individual, whatever their racial or ethnic origin, is able to fulfil their potential through the enjoyment of equal opportunities, rights and responsibilities. This report provides information on progress to increase race equality and community cohesion. It outlines progress that is being made towards achieving race equality in the key public services and in building community cohesion

• TSA looks to the future and sponsors black and minority ethnic leaders

  5 February 2009

  Promoting black and minority ethnic (BME) future leaders, the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) has announced it is funding five places for BME staff

• £32m available in 2009/10 for Gypsy and Traveller sites

  5 February 2009

  Local authorities, ALMOs and HAs who wish to provide social rented sites for Gypsies and Travellers, new age travellers and travelling show people can now access guidance on bidding for funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA)

• The potential of migrant and refugee community organisations to influence policy

  2 February 2009

  A Joseph Rowntree report on a partnership set up to test how migrant and refugee community organisations could change policies and practices that are crucial to the lives of their communities

• Empowering Birmingham's migrant and refugee community organisations

  2 February 2009

  Joseph Rowntree report which explores how migrant and refugee community organisations (MRCOs) can be supported and trained to collect evidence from their communities that will help influence policy and service provision

• Sources of resentment, and perceptions of ethnic minorities among poor white people in England

  12 January 2009

  This report examines sources of resentment, and perceptions of ethnic minorities among poor white people in England. It is based on qualitative research in four areas and was produced for Communities and Local Government by the National Community Forum

• Disability Equality Report (EasyRead)

  8 January 2009

  This CLG report is about how equality can make a real difference to disabled people's lives.

• Guidance on meaningful interaction: How encouraging positive relationships between people can help build community cohesion

  8 January 2009

  This guidance is Communities and Local Government's first attempt to set out what we know about meaningful interaction, based on research findings and the views of expert practitioners

• Gypsies and Traveller accommodation – an update

  6 January 2009

  Network briefing by Vanessa Morton, provides an update on the developing frameworks around Gypsy and Traveller accommodation, looks at recent analysis of progress on the ground and highlights the excellent practical toolkits and guidance now available to assist local authorities and housing organisations

• Delivering Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods - A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society

  30 December 2008

  This publication is a follow up to Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society which was published in February 2008

• More handy help at home for older people

  24 December 2008

  Older people are to get more 'handyman' help to carry out repairs to their homes following a £33m allocation announced by Communities Minister Baroness Andrews

• Minister announces 2009-10 Disabled Facilities Grant local authority allocation

  10 December 2008

  Housing Minister Baroness Andrews today announced how much funding each local authority will get to help disabled and older people stay in their homes through the Disabled Facilities Grant Programme. The government is making £157m available to local authorities in England for 2009-10 through the programme, with over 230 local authorities receiving an increase

• Disability Equality Report

  2 December 2008

  The purpose of this report is to help further the government's vision of equality for disabled people by 2025 as set out in the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit Report Improving Life Chances of Disabled People

• Working together to deliver for Gypsies and Travellers

  26 November 2008

  Speech by Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

• Working Towards Community Cohesion in a Time of Uncertainty

  21 November 2008

  Speech by Sadiq Khan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

• Independent Review of Older People's Engagement with government: Consultation

  20 November 2008

  On 18 November 2008, John presented his final report to government. To ensure that everyone with an interest in this important area has an opportunity to provide views on John’s findings and recommendations, Rosie Winterton, Minister of State for Pensions and the Ageing Society is inviting comments. Consultation closes on 09-01-09

• Preventing violent extremism learning and development exercise

  14 November 2008

  The Audit Commission and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary undertook a learning and development exercise to draw out learning from the first year of local work to prevent violent extremism

• Disabled adaptations - the current agenda

  30 October 2008

  Complimentary SEN briefing by Vanessa Morton provides a detailed overview of the main policy agenda which is likely to frame the way in which adaptations are currently delivered and how they will be delivered in the future

• Housing needs and aspirations of ethnic minority communities

  24 October 2008

  The housing needs and aspirations of Britain’s large black and minority ethnic (BME) communities differ from those of white British communities. This seventh paper in the Planning for the Future series from the Housing Corporation looks at these differences

• New one-stop shop for cohesion launched

  20 October 2008

  Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has welcomed the launch of a new dedicated website giving expert help and guidance on creating strong, cohesive communities

• The housing and neighbourhood impact of Britain's changing ethnic mix

  8 October 2008

  This paper summarises evidence, largely from Joseph Rowntree Foundation funded studies, on the nature and impact of Britain’s changing ethnic mix and reviews recent policy responses and lessons from the studies for government policy

• Community Cohesion and Neighbourhood Management: A Theme Report from the Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders National Evaluation

  8 October 2008

  CLG theme report which explores the role that neighbourhood management can play in promoting community cohesion by examining the experience of five case study pathfinder areas

• Implementing the Mobile Homes Act 1983 on local authority Gypsy and Traveller sites: a consultation paper

  25 September 2008

  The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 will apply the Mobile Homes Act 1983 to local authority Gypsy and Traveller sites. This CLG consultation document seeks views on a number of issues around implementing the1983 Act on these sites

• Formative evaluation of community strategies

  27 August 2008

  CLG research report draws upon evidence from the national evaluation of community strategies to consider how equality and diversity are addressed within community strategies in a selection of local authorities between 2003 and 2007

• The Socially Excluded Adults Public Service Agreement

  12 August 2008

  Network briefing by Bill Hewlett explores how the government is taking action through the Socially Excluded Adults Public Service Agreement

• Gender Equality Scheme: Annual Report 2007/2008 Gender Equality Scheme: Annual Report 2007/2008

  7 August 2008

  This report summarises the progress CLG has made in promoting gender equality in the first 12 months of the scheme by providing information and evidence gathered, and by identifying the next steps

• Toolkit on how to manage pitches for Gypsies and Travellers

  1 August 2008

  A new report aimed at educating housing associations about pitches for Gypsies and Travellers has been released by the Housing Corporation

• Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: Easyread version

  29 July 2008

  This is the government's plan about making sure older people have a good and safe place to live

• Foundations to take home improvements for older and disabled people to the next level

  22 July 2008

  Home improvements for older and disabled people will be supported and promoted by 'Foundations' after they were awarded the contract to run the national body for Home Improvement Agencies, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Baroness Andrews has announced

• Face to Face and Side by Side: A framework for partnership in our multi faith society

  22 July 2008

  This document sets out how faith communities, Government and wider society can work together, at all levels, to encourage and enable greater local activity which brings people with different religions and beliefs together

• Face to Face and Side by Side: A framework for partnership in our multi faith society - Summary

  22 July 2008

  The Government have now published Face to Face and Side by Side: A framework for partnership in our multi faith society. The framework sets out how faith communities, Government and wider society can work together to encourage and enable greater local activity which brings people with different religions and beliefs together. This summary introduces the key points of the framework

• Immigration and social cohesion in the UK

  21 July 2008

  Joseph Rowntree research which draws on original material gathered from six UK sites with different experiences of migration and post-industrial transformations, and comprising different populations of long-term residents and new immigrants

• Preventing Violent Extremism: Next Steps for Communities

  21 July 2008

  In April 2007 Communities and Local Government launched our Preventing Violent Extremism: Winning Hearts and Minds action plan. In that document we set out a range of practical actions to mobilise communities against violent extremists

• Don't stop me now - Preparing for an ageing population

  17 July 2008

  The Audit Commission's new report, Don't stop me now – Preparing for an ageing population, has found that councils in England, particularly those which have the fastest ageing populations, are not ready to meet the challenges or grasp opportunities as we get older

• Immigration and inclusion in South Wales

  15 July 2008

  Joseph Rowntree research which explores the impact of new migration on receiving communities, in particular on community, integration and cohesion. Based on research carried out in Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil, it explores the perspectives of both new and settled residents

• The government response to Our Shared Future: recommendations on community cohesion for social housing providers

  1 July 2008

  Network briefing by Joanna Jeffery and Richard Seager highlights those parts of the government response that have particular significance for social housing providers

• Citizenship Survey: April 2007 - March 2008, England and Wales

  26 June 2008

  This release provides headline findings from all four quarters of the 2007-2008 Citizenship Survey, covering April 2007- March 2008. The release covers active and empowered communities; community cohesion; and racial prejudice and discrimination

• Community engagement and community cohesion

  25 June 2008

  Government policies for community engagement have been high profile, as have community cohesion agendas – but these have been developed in parallel. Joseph Rowntree study explores the challenges of bringing them together. It examines ways of enabling new arrivals to become involved, promoting solidarity and cohesion rather than competition and conflict between newer and more established communities

• Managing the impacts of migration

  11 June 2008

  Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has set out the range of actions the government is taking to manage migration, maximise the benefits for the whole of the UK and minimise the negative impacts

• Housing and disabled children

  6 June 2008

  Joseph Rowntree round-up, which provides an overview of what is known about the housing circumstances of disabled children and their families

• Additional Government funding and recognition for the third sector working to improve race equality and cohesion

  22 May 2008

  Community organisations committed to supporting and improving community relations and race equality will gain access to a new funding pot of up to £660,000 with the announcement of the successful recipients of the third round of the Connecting Communities Plus Community Grants

• Cohesion guidance for funders consultation: Impact Assessment

  16 May 2008

  This document assesses the impact of the proposals in the Cohesion Guidance for Funders Consultation which was published on 4 Feb 2008

• Gold awards

  14 May 2008

  The winners of the prestigious Housing Corporation’s Gold Awards 2007 have now been announced. There were three themes for the annual awards which were presented by Housing Minister, Caroline Flint

• Three stars for equality and diversity: lessons from recent inspections

  13 May 2008

  Network briefing by Joanna Jeffery and Richard Seager highlighting good practice and areas of weakness identified in recent inspection reports

• Guidance for local authorities on community cohesion contingency planning and tension monitoring

  12 May 2008

  Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has published new guidance encouraging local authorities to better map their communities and the people that live there as part of efforts to monitor tensions and promote more cohesive and integrated communities

• Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A national strategy for housing in an ageing society

  25 April 2008

  Network briefing by Hazel Summers outlines the key elements and implications of the national strategy for housing in an ageing society

• The Independent Living Strategy

  8 April 2008

  Network briefing by Joanna Jeffery and Richard Seager explores the Independent Living Strategy and its impact for service providers

• Disabled Facilities Grant reform - the package of changes

  3 April 2008

  SEN briefing by Vanessa Morton highlights key issues and areas where action is needed to improve disabled people’s ability to access independent living, and sustain it. It draws attention to the national agendas and direction of travel, and provides examples of different perspectives and good practice

• Government Response to The Road Ahead: The Final Report of the Independent Task Group on Gypsy and Traveller Site Provision and Enforcement

  1 April 2008

  In December 2007, the Independent Task Group on Site Provision and Enforcement published their final report to Ministers: The Road Ahead. This document sets out the response to the recommendations to central government within that report

• The Adequacy of Refuges, Escape Stairs and Management Procedures: BD 2441

  1 April 2008

  CLG final report which summarises the findings from the consultation process into the adequacy of refuges and evacuation procedures. It describes the literature review and consultation processes, and makes recommendations for potential changes to regulations and for future work

• Routes and barriers to citizen governance

  28 March 2008

  Joseph Rowntree study which explored the realities of citizen governance through the testimonies of 50 women from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities actively engaged in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, and participants from selected affluent and disadvantaged Birmingham wards

• Disabled Facilities Grant reform - the package of changes

  27 March 2008

  SEN briefing by Vanessa Morton highlights key issues and areas where action is needed to improve disabled people’s ability to access independent living, and sustain it. It draws attention to the national agendas and direction of travel, and provides examples of different perspectives and good practice

• Equality and diversity - New guidance from the Housing Corporation

  25 March 2008

  Network briefing, by Joanna Jeffery and Richard Seager, describes the scope of the new guidance as well as its limitations

• Immigration, faith and cohesion

  25 March 2008

  Joseph Rowntree Housing trust research, which analyses new data from three local areas, Birmingham, Bradford and Newham, where relatively large numbers of recently arrived Muslim migrants and established Muslim residents are living alongside people of other faiths and of no faith

• Gypsy and Traveller Sites Grant Guidance 2008-2011

  7 March 2008

  The Gypsy and Traveller Sites Grant provides capital funding for improving and increasing Gypsy and Traveller site provision by local authorities and Registered Social Landlords

• Disabled Facilities Grant: The Package of Changes to Modernise the Programme

  25 February 2008

  This document sets out the Government's response to the consultation paper - Disabled Facilities Grant Programme: The Government's proposals to improve programme delivery

• More responsive public services? A guide to commissioning migrant and refugee community organisations

  20 February 2008

  Joseph Rowntree guide to commissioning migrant and refugee community organisations (MRCOs) to deliver public services.

 

Allocations, CBL and tenancy issues

• Government backs proposals for greater legal protection for tenants

  2 February 2010

  The government has given its formal backing to a backbench bill aimed at giving tenants greater protection when their landlords face repossession action

• Tackling unlawful subletting and other tenancy fraud

  22 December 2009

  Network briefing by Neil Merrick

• Fair and flexible

  8 December 2009

  Statutory guidance on social housing allocations for local authorities in England

• Fair and flexible: draft statutory guidance on social housing allocations for local authorities in England

  8 December 2009

  Summary of responses to consultation

• Greater council freedom on housing allocations

  8 December 2009

  Housing Minister John Healey has today given councils more flexibility in how they manage their waiting lists

• John Healey calls time on tenancy cheats

  3 December 2009

  Housing Minister John Healey has launched the first-ever national crackdown on tenancy cheats to recover up to 10,000 council and housing association homes fraudulently sublet, and release them to those in real need

• Social Housing Fraud Communications Toolkit

  3 December 2009

  To help deliver the campaign locally Communities and Local Government have produced a marketing toolkit for local authorities and social housing landlords

• Poverty, unemployment and repossessions on the rise years before the recession began

  3 December 2009

  Joseph Rowntree report

• Tackling unlawful subletting and occupancy

  30 November 2009

  Good practice guidance for social landlords

• New guide for social housing landlords to tackle overcrowding and under-occupation

  20 November 2009

  TSA guide to help landlords to review and progress their approach to tackling these two issues

• Preventing repossessions Fact sheet

  13 November 2009

  This factsheet summarises the actions that the government has taken to help struggling homeowners avoid losing their home

• Repossessions must remain the last resort

  12 November 2009

  Housing Minister John Healey has stepped up government efforts to help struggling homeowners get a grip on their finances and avoid the trauma of repossession

• What does excellence look like? Allocations and lettings

  20 October 2009

  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 allocations and lettings

• Managing housing registers in England

  6 October 2009

  Network briefing by Tim Brown and Wendy Murphy

• Choice-based lettings (CBL): where next?

  1 October 2009

  Network briefing by Tim Brown and Wendy Murphy focuses on what ‘fair and flexible’ means for CBL systems

• Social housing fraud

  22 September 2009

  Network briefing by Chris Bowen examines the cost and extent of social housing fraud via the illegal sub-letting of homes owned by local authorities and housing associations

• HQN annual conference

  25 August 2009

  Network briefing by Kate Murray details each of the presentations at this year's HQN annual conference

• Fair and flexible – draft statutory guidance on social housing allocations for local authorities in England, issued 31 July 2009

  13 August 2009

  Complimentary SEN briefing by Wendy Murphy, summarises the guidance, highlighting changes in emphasis and recommendations from government for action and presents HQN’s response to the guidance based on considerable and recent work with a number of local authorities and their partners to review and redesign their allocations policies

• Fair and flexible - Draft statutory guidance on social housing allocations for local authorities in England

  31 July 2009

  CLG consultation on new draft statutory guidance on social housing allocations for local authorities in England. The new guidance aims to address the lack of awareness and understanding about allocations, and to tackle misconceptions. It encourages local authorities to involve their communities in reviewing and revising their allocation policies, and to communicate effectively about how and to whom social housing is allocated. It also encourages local authorities to make full use of the available flexibilities, so that their allocations policies best meet local needs and circumstances. Consultation closes 23 October 2009

• Local Standard Pilot scheme expanded

  21 July 2009

  Due to a high level of interest, the Local Standard Pilot scheme has been expanded to include the allocations standard. Grants of up to £9,000 are available and the closing date for applications is 5 August 2009

• Managing empty properties in the social sector

  9 July 2009

  Network briefing paper by Chris Bowen sets out the problem of empty properties in the social housing sector, the potential they offer to increase the supply of affordable housing and the impact that vacant stock has on landlords and neighbourhoods

• HCA welcomes new money and focuses on immediate delivery

  30 June 2009

  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

• Healey announces major plans for more homes and fairer lettings to meet local needs

  30 June 2009

  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

• Efficiency in housing income management

  23 June 2009

  Network briefing paper by Tony Newman which forms part of a series of HQN briefings on efficiency in social housing

• Tolerated trespass – moving on

  28 May 2009

  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

• Tolerated trespass – the end

  26 May 2009

  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

• Housing allocations: Members of the Armed Forces

  15 April 2009

  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

• Fund for the Development of Regional and Sub-regional Choice Based Lettings Schemes: Guidance for submitting a proposal

  23 March 2009

  CLG is providing £7m over five years (2005/2010) to support the development of regional and sub-regional CBL schemes in England. This is the final year of the Regional Choice Fund and CLG is making £1m available to fund regional and sub-regional choice based lettings schemes to enable to enable English local authorities to be part of a CBL Scheme by 2010

• Consultation on Tolerated Trespassers: Successor Landlord Cases - Summary of Responses

  9 March 2009

  In September 2008 Communities and Local Government published a consultation paper on tolerated trespassers, considering options for extending the provisions relating to existing tolerated trespassers in Schedule 11 to the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 to successor landlord cases. This document summarises the responses which were received to that consultation exercise

• Application of Discretionary Council Tax Powers for Empty Homes

  23 January 2009

  This CLG study investigates the impact that the discretionary application of the 50% Council Tax discount on empty homes is having on bringing such properties back into use

• Guidance on the use of Family Intervention Tenancies

  20 January 2009

  This guidance is aimed at social landlords and their use of Family Intervention Tenancies. These tenancies were introduced in the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 ("the 2008 Act") and became available for use on 1 January 2009

• Implementation of tenant service charges

  18 December 2008

  Network briefing by Tony Huff

• More funding for housing choice

  12 December 2008

  More tenants will be able to have a greater say over their housing options and where they wish to live following a £1m allocation announced by Housing Minister Iain Wright

• Allocations policies: effective practice to prevent homelessness

  26 November 2008

  Speech by Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

• Sector study 62: Analysing key trends in the supply and distribution of social housing lettings

  26 November 2008

  Over three million tenancies were let by local authorities and housing associations in England in the decade to 2006-07. However, the annual volume of lettings slumped by 40% over this period. This Housing Corporation sector study dissects the factors contributing to this trend, and investigates the extent to which the outcomes of lettings processes are compounding the residualisation of social housing and the ethnic segregation of neighbourhoods

• Energy performance certificates: the new requirements

  20 November 2008

  Network briefing by Janis Bright which considers the new requirements and some of the issues arising from a pilot of EPCs carried out by social landlords last year

• Tolerated trespass – the end is nigh

  11 November 2008

  Network briefing by Tim Horsley rehearses the underlying issues, describes how TTs will be prevented and eliminated, and looks at the proposals for successor landlords put forward by the CLG in a recent consultation paper: Tolerated Trespassers: Successor Landlord Cases

• Communities and Local Government (2008): Allocation of Accommodation: Code of Guidance for local housing authorities – choice-based lettings

  28 October 2008

  Network briefing note by Tim Brown summarises and comments on the Code of Guidance

• Energy performance of buildings

  6 October 2008

  Speech by Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

• Requirements for energy performance certificates (EPCs) when marketing homes for sale or let

  6 October 2008

  This guide describes the scope and requirements of the regulations applying to EPCs when homes are being sold or let and provides guidance on how these are applied

• Evaluation of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) pilot for social housing: Final Summary Report

  1 October 2008

  This publication evaluates the pilot scheme developed to support the roll-out of Energy Performance Certificates to rented properties, in particular social housing

• Tolerated Trespassers: Successor Landlord Cases - a consultation paper

  25 September 2008

  Many thousands of tenants of LA’s and RSL’s have become "tolerated trespassers". The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 contains provisions which, on commencement, will ensure that no tolerated trespassers are created in future. The provisions will also resolve the problem for the vast majority of existing tolerated trespassers. However, there is one group of existing tolerated trespassers which is not covered by the provisions in the 2008 Act. While the provisions cover all situations in which the tolerated trespasser's landlord remains the same, they do not apply where ownership of the property has passed to a new landlord, so-called "successor landlord cases". However, the 2008 Act gives the government the power to extend the provisions for existing tolerated trespassers to successor landlord cases. This CLG consultation paper - which is issued on behalf of Communities and Local Government and the Welsh Assembly - considers options for using this power

• Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and renting homes: A landlord's guide

  8 September 2008

  This booklet gives advice to landlords on Energy Performance Certificates which will be required if renting to a new tenant from 1 October 2008

• Choice-based lettings update: spring 2008

  9 May 2008

  Network briefing by Tim Brown gives a round up and an update on Choice Based Lettings progress and an insight into government policy

• Fund for the Development of Regional and Sub-regional Choice Based Lettings Schemes - Guidance and Instructions for submitting a proposal

  28 March 2008

  The 5 year housing plan, Homes for All - published in January 2005 - set out the Government's plans for taking forward its CBL policy. The aim is to have in place nationwide choice by 2010. The Government wants to build on the existing Communities and Local Government CBL target - for all local authorities to have adopted choice by 2010 - by extending choice based lettings to cover, not only local authority and housing association properties, but also low cost home ownership options and properties for rent from private landlords. The purpose of the Regional Choice Fund is to support social landlords who are keen to work together to create sub-regional and/or regional CBL schemes

 

Voids and low demand

• Empty homes refurbishment just part of the solution

  25 March 2009

  Refurbishing empty properties to bring them back into use as affordable housing is just one part of the solution to meet housing demand and simultaneously stimulate supply, according to the Homes and Communities Agency

• Healey secures tax boost to revive deprived areas

  27 February 2008

  Measures designed to breathe new life into deprived areas has come a step closer, as Local Government Minister John Healey laid regulations in Parliament to enable the introduction of reforms to empty property rates on April 1

 

Resident involvement

• The TSA's proposed governance standard

  3 February 2010

  Network briefing by Steve Wood

• Connecting Communities

  2 February 2010

  Connecting Communities seeks to reinvigorate and connect with those communities that feel the pressure from the recession most acutely

• New powers to help residents fix local problems

  2 February 2010

  Communities are being given a powerful new way to fix local problems under new proposals to strengthen the ability of councils to scrutinise all local public services

• The TSA's proposed tenant involvement and empowerment standard

  26 January 2010

  Network briefing by Laurie McCormack

• Connecting Communities

  21 January 2010

  More help for traditional working class communities

• An evaluation of the community contracts pilot programme

  5 January 2010

  This report presents the results of a small-scale evaluation of community contracts, covering lessons about implementation and the impact of contracts on empowerment, local services, local communities, and local democracy

• An analytical framework for community empowerment evaluations

  15 December 2009

  This standardised analytical framework aims to provide guidance to researchers and practitioners undertaking evaluations of projects which aim to deliver empowerment outcomes at the local level

• Connecting communities programme triples in size

  15 December 2009

  Communities Secretary John Denham has extended a major drive to address the concerns of traditional working class communities to a further 84 areas of the country

• Putting power into petitioning

  3 December 2009

  Local people will be able to demand their councils to take action on under-performing schools and hospitals, alcohol disorder, anti-social behaviour and other concerns under new proposals to give real teeth to local petitions, announced Communities Secretary John Denham

• Measuring and valuing public services at the neighbourhood level

  23 November 2009

  CLG report which forms part of the evaluation of the Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders

• Community philosophy: A project report

  13 November 2009

  Reflections on the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's New Earswick community philosophy project

• New drive to free councils up to respond quicker to community concerns

  28 October 2009

  Communities Secretary John Denham is putting councils in the driving seat when it comes to dealing with issues that local residents clearly say they want tackled

• Communities in control: real people, real power - Government response to the making and enforcement of byelaws

  28 October 2009

  This CLG document summarises the responses to the 2008 consultation on the new byelaws regime. It also sets out the government's response, and the next steps intended to be taken

• Creating a stronger information, advice and advocacy system for older people

  20 October 2009

  Joseph Rowntree paper which highlights recent work in Newcastle by the Quality of Life Partnership that's developed ways of working with existing systems to make them more 'older person friendly', efficient, and effective for all concerned

• Connecting communities

  16 October 2009

  Speech by The Rt Hon John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

• New Fylde Coast partnership to re-energise local economy

  16 October 2009

  The Fylde Coast area is being given new freedoms and powers to work together to improve tourism, transport, employment and skills in their area, announced Communities Secretary John Denham

• Connecting communities

  16 October 2009

  Communities Secretary John Denham has outlined a £12m plan to reinvigorate and connect with those communities that are feeling the pressure from recession most acutely and ensure they are well placed to share fully in future prosperity and emerge stronger and more cohesive

• Can pledging increase civic activity?

  14 October 2009

  This CLG study involved a brief review of the academic literature and internet search on Pledgebanks. The review provides an overview of current pledge activity in the UK and examines evidence from pledge scheme reports and academic study to discuss whether pledging works

• Summary of responses to consultation on right to manage company articles

  1 October 2009

  Breakdown of the responses received to the consultation on right to manage company articles and Communities and Local Government's intentions in relation to the proposals in the paper

• Tenants happier in social housing

  22 September 2009

  Housing association tenants are more satisfied with the quality of their homes, their neighbourhoods and their landlords than ten years ago, according to new research from the Tenant Services Authority

• What does excellence look like? Access and customer care

  15 September 2009

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon looking at the attributes of excellent three-star organisations inspected by the Audit Commission in 2007 and 2008

• TSA funding to recognise and promote best practice and innovation

  3 July 2009

  A new project to identify and promote best practice by social housing providers in England has been launched by the TSA. HAs, LAs 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'

• To see ourselves as others see us - but first

  22 June 2009

  How good is your board? Test yourself in our quick online quiz for board members. Follow the link to our HQN governance self-assessment toolkit with a foreword from Peter Marsh of the TSA

• What does excellence look like? Resident involvement

  16 June 2009

  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

• Neighbourhood Management

  4 June 2009

  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

• Empowering communities to influence local decision making - A systematic review of the evidence

  2 June 2009

  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

• Communities Progress Report

  2 June 2009

  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

• Empowering communities to influence local decision making - Evidence-based lessons for policy makers and practitioners

  2 June 2009

  This CLG report draws on a systematic review of community empowerment to provide evidence-based lessons for policy makers and practitioners

• Hazel Blears: Local people key to unlocking greater savings

  7 May 2009

  Councils must listen to the views of local people to work smarter and make greater efficiency savings, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has announced

• Tenants want more involvement in housing management, says new report

  30 March 2009

  The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) report Understanding Tenant Involvement explores the attitudes that social housing tenants have towards involvement in housing management and decision making

• WeCan! - Spring 2009

  19 March 2009

  Quarterly CLG magazine for people interested in getting involved in and influencing the delivery of services in their local area

• Challenge to landlords to give tenants a greater say

  5 March 2009

  Social housing landlords need to focus more on their tenants and involve them in making decisions about services, according to the Chief Executive of the Tenant Services Authority (TSA)

• National Tenant Voice begins to take shape

  13 February 2009

  Plans for the new independent National Tenant Voice (NTV), which will give tenants a say on the housing issues affecting them, have been published and accepted by Ministers

• Citizens of Equal Worth: The Project Group's Proposals for the National Tenant Voice - full report

  11 February 2009

  CLG’s project group report (Citizens of Equal Worth) makes clear recommendations to government on the role, remit and governance of the National Tenant Voice

• National Tenant Voice plans agreed - an update for tenants

  11 February 2009

  This note sets out what has happened since the consultations, how CLG see the NTV being set up and how tenants can find out more and get involved

• Citizens of Equal Worth

  6 February 2009

  CLG Executive summary of the Project Group's Proposals for the National Tenant Voice

• Councils are crucial to getting communities through the downturn

  29 January 2009

  Communities Secretary Hazel Blears today welcomed the Prime Minister's commitment to councils providing pivotal support to communities through the global economic downturn

• Citizenship survey - citizens feel a strong sense of belonging

  29 January 2009

  Communities and Local Government survey

• County Councils Rising to the Challenge: Community Empowerment at work in our neighbourhoods

  27 January 2009

  Speech by Sadiq Khan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

• Communities in Control: Real people, real power - Government response to the improving local accountability consultation

  27 January 2009

  A summary of responses to the improving local accountability consultation and the government's response to the consultation

• Hazel Blears - Supporting communities to support individuals

  14 January 2009

  Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has unveiled measures that will see young people from some of the nation's most deprived areas getting involved in activities that will introduce them to a world beyond their immediate neighbourhoods, involve local communities in efforts to raise their aspirations and aim to break the cycle of deprivation that blights some of our communities

• Guidance on building a local sense of belonging

  8 January 2009

  Last year CLG worked with the Citizenship Foundation to publish the Citizens' Day Framework. This guidance is the next step and suggests ways in which councils, voluntary groups and other organisations can encourage a sense of belonging

• Civic Pioneers Case Study Review

  5 January 2009

  In the spring of 2007, funding was made available through the Community Empowerment Division to Civic Pioneer local authority areas to carry out projects focusing on community empowerment. This Review presents case studies of each of the twelve funded projects, together with a simple analysis of the lessons learned from these experiences. The report represents valuable learning for practitioners and policy makers

• Citizens of Equal Worth: putting tenants at the heart of government

  30 December 2008

  Network briefing by Nigel Long summarises the now publicised recommendations of the NTV project group

• Community ownership and management of assets

  10 December 2008

  A Joseph Rowntree review of evidence on community organisations owning or managing assets, including buildings and land

• New legislation to help build stronger communities

  8 December 2008

  The government has published wide-ranging legislation that will give local people new rights to shape local services and give greater responsibility to local authorities to promote economic development helping communities respond to local challenges

• The Empowerment Fund: Impact Assessment

  26 November 2008

  This final stage impact assessment builds on an early consultation stage IA published in July 2008. The aim is to provide strategic, stable and sector funding from Communities and Local Government to a limited number of key third sector organisations focused on community empowerment

• Tenant empowerment: turning fine words into best practice

  19 November 2008

  Network briefing by Nigel Long explores tenant empowerment, including tenant-led areas of good practice

• Promoting inter-generational understanding through Community Philosophy

  31 October 2008

  Communities can bring younger and older people together in ways that may be uncomfortable for both groups. Young people’s behaviour may be labelled 'nuisance', while older people's views may be labelled 'intolerant'. This Joseph Rowntree study summarises an independent evaluation of the 'Thinking Village project', which was designed to develop intergenerational understanding in a neighbourhood, using the principles of 'Community Philosophy'

• Communities in Control- Real power, real people - Redress review

  27 October 2008

  The Empowerment White Paper 'Communities in Control: Real people, real power' announced the government's vision for empowering communities. As part of this it set out that there would be a review into the feasibility and practicality of introducing and extending the idea of redress for citizens where services do not meet expectations. The review will also take a wider look at how the customer can really be put at the heart of local service delivery

• Code of Service Delivery and Accountability

  24 October 2008

  NHF draft Code which has been developed following consultations with tenants around the country, and responses to an online questionnaire. The Federation is now seeking further feedback from its members and their tenants on the content of the Code
  
  Closing date 8 December 2008

• Blears invites ideas to improve local communities

  16 October 2008

  Communities Secretary Hazel Blears today called on councils to work closely with their residents to unearth new and innovative ideas to improve their local area and make places in which people want to live, work and raise a family

• New regulation and guidance to encourage and support tenant empowerment to come into effect

  1 October 2008

  New regulation and guidance to encourage and support tenant empowerment has now come into effect as new Right to Manage regulations and changes to the Tenant Empowerment Programme are introduced

• Residents’ choice: Guidance on tenant management and other options supported through the Tenant Empowerment Programme

  1 October 2008

  This handbook gives guidance to residents living in social housing who are considering taking control of housing and related services. It looks at how residents can get advice and consider their choices for having more influence over services in their neighbourhood

• Local choice, local control: Statutory guidance on tenant management for local authorities and local authority tenants

  1 October 2008

  This guidance is given under the Housing (Right to Manage) Regulations 2008, which provides that all those who are exercising functions under the Legislation are required to take into account this guidance

• National Tenant Voice

  22 September 2008

  Network briefing by Sheila Adamson looks at how proposals for a National Tenant Voice are developing

• Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Tenant Services Authority (TSA)

  11 September 2008

  Network briefing by Charlie Hughes summarises the background to splitting up the Housing Corporation's functions of funding and regulation and reminds readers of the reasons and objectives behind this change

• Engaging and empowering women in poverty

  31 July 2008

  Joseph Rowntree report which examines participatory research conducted with women in poverty living in Birmingham, Cardiff and London. The project aimed to build their political capacity so that they could take their collective knowledge and experience, present it as policy proposals to policy-makers and actively help to produce policy change

• Communities in control: real people, real power: Summary

  29 July 2008

  This is a summary version of Communities in control: real people, real power which tells the story of power, influence and control and how people can use existing and new tools to access it

• Empowerment in Action

  21 July 2008

  Speech by The Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

• Emerging proposals for the National Tenant Voice

  17 July 2008

  The government is taking a real lead in putting tenants at the heart of decision making about their homes and neighbourhoods

• Community Power Packs

  17 July 2008

  Communities in control: real people, real power has now been launched. This White Paper is about passing power to communities and giving real control and influence to more people

• Community Power Pack: real people, real power

  17 July 2008

  The Community Power Pack is a practical guide, which can help people play a more active role in their community and influence decisions that matter to them. It is easy to read and focused on fun and creative activities

• Communities in control: real people, real power - White Paper

  11 July 2008

  Communities in control: real people, real power was launched on 9 July 2008. This White Paper is about passing power to communities and giving real control and influence to more people

• Minister confirms new deal for communities funding

  3 July 2008

  Communities Minister Baroness Andrews has confirmed nearly £500m for neighbourhood partnerships in deprived communities across the country, to continue helping their work to cut crime levels, improve educational achievements and boost job opportunities

• National debate on tenant empowerment and tenant choice opened

  18 June 2008

  Housing Corporation Deputy CEO calls for revolution in tenant engagement and involvement

• Community Gateway briefing

  27 May 2008

  Case study briefing by Paul Roberts explores why this approach was taken, looks at their model, community empowerment and what the future holds for Preston’s community gateway model

• Designing Citizen-centred Governance

  27 May 2008

  Joseph Rowntree report

• Three new rights to right local wrongs - new Community Empowerment Bill to harness petition power

  16 May 2008

  Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has outlined plans to give every citizen in England three new rights to have a greater say to trigger action on local issues they care about. These could range from directing more money from councils to tackle anti-social behaviour and graffiti, to taking over the running of local assets like community or leisure centres, or forcing a public debate on local issues they are concerned about

• Putting communities in control - Blears

  6 March 2008

  Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has announced radical plans to unlock talent in local communities and give people a real say on improving local services and promoting active citizenship

 

Crime and anti-social behaviour

• Cash for Crackdown on empty homes and anti-social behaviour

  9 February 2010

  Extra support for councils to step up efforts to get empty homes back in use and reduce anti-social behaviour

• The TSA's proposed anti-social behaviour standard

  25 January 2010

  Network briefing by Tim Horsley

• Crimes occurring and prevented in New Deal for Communities areas

  8 January 2010

  This CLG report examines the economic cost of crime potentially prevented by the New Deal for Communities (NDC) programme between 2000-01 and 2004-05

• Action squad to help landlords tackle anti-social behaviour

  23 November 2009

  TSA press release

• John Denham announces extra support for communities to tackle anti-social behaviour

  23 November 2009

  Millions of people across the country will get extra help to tackle anti-social behaviour with up to ten thousand front-line staff and community champions receiving training and support to use tough powers and solve local problems

• TSA welcomes new £15m challenge fund for family intervention projects

  1 October 2009

  TSA welcomes new voluntary match funding scheme to identify and provide support for families causing problems within their local community. Details of the scheme to be announced shortly

• Social housing fraud

  22 September 2009

  Network briefing by Chris Bowen examines the cost and extent of social housing fraud via the illegal sub-letting of homes owned by local authorities and housing associations

• Survey shows respect for law tops the values people think are important to living in Britain

  28 August 2009

  Respect for the law, tolerance and politeness towards others top the list of values people think are important to living in Britain, new figures published show

• National Fraud Initiative extended to detect social housing fraud

  31 July 2009

  The Audit Commission extends the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) to help detect fraudsters, through a data sweep of housing and benefit records, who illegally occupy or sublet multiple council and housing association flats and homes

• Success in tackling anti-social behaviour

  21 May 2009

  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

• Securing Homes - Action Against Burglary

  9 April 2009

  Home Office Action Plan that sets out details of the Securing Homes programme. The Action Plan is supported by £15m funding for 2009/10

• Using Family Intervention Tenancies

  24 March 2009

  Network briefing by Tim Horsley gives a brief background to how FIPs work and their impact (a full briefing on vulnerability will follow), what FITs are and how they work

• Hazel Blears - help for those escaping gang crime

  3 February 2009

  A new scheme to provide safe accommodation for people at serious risk of violence associated with gang or weapon crime will begin in Southwark

• Tired of hanging around

  29 January 2009

  Audit Commission report using sport and leisure activities to prevent anti-social behaviour by young people

• Guidance on the use of Family Intervention Tenancies

  20 January 2009

  This guidance is aimed at social landlords and their use of Family Intervention Tenancies. These tenancies were introduced in the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 ("the 2008 Act") and became available for use on 1 January 2009

• Premises Closure Orders and Social Landlords

  8 January 2009

  Network briefing by Tim Horsley looks in detail at the next stage in the government’s use of tools and powers to manage anti social behaviour (ASB) and increase public confidence

• Young people and territoriality in British cities

  16 October 2008

  Joseph Rowntree study which investigates territorial behaviour by young people to see whether this imposes significant constraints on their lives, and to consider the implications of this kind of behaviour for communities

• The Respect Standard: what social landlords should be doing and what inspectors are looking for

  7 October 2008

  Network toolkit by Tim Horsley includes background information, a self-assessment tool, examples of good practice involving young people, estate management, ASB management and support, and hyperlinks to key documents

  Additional files:

  • Word version for completion purposes

• Behind closed doors

  4 September 2008

  Housing Corporation guidance on domestic violence, so that tenant and staff victims can come forward to disclose these matters to their housing management staff and others within their association, with a view to solving these, and eradicating future, problems

• Cash for councils that lead by example

  8 July 2008

  Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, last night announced extra funding to encourage local government to spread their good practice and work - from affordable housing to anti-social behaviour

• Target shake up delivers stronger focus on issues that matter to the public

  30 June 2008

  The results of a comprehensive shake up of council targets and priorities are now published. The priorities - agreed in partnership with central government - show the pattern of issues across England that councils will now have to grapple with over the next three years. Councils will now need to devote considerable energy to ensuring their communities feel safer, that tackling serious violence and anti-social behaviour is a major priority, and that tackling unemployment and teenage pregnancy is comprehensively addressed

• The way ahead for safer communities: government response to Casey Review

  18 June 2008

  Increasing the visibility of community sentences so that offenders ‘pay back’ to the community, providing regular local crime data and online maps, and investing in a new team of community champions are part of new plans to better engage communities in the fight against crime has been announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Justice Secretary Jack Straw

• The role of housing associations in Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships

  3 June 2008

  Network briefing by Tim Horsley looks at the roles now expected of HAs, the methods they can use to fulfil them, and what more a CDRP can offer than just a quarterly meeting of partners

• Community leadership approaches to tackling street crime

  19 May 2008

  Joseph Rowntree report

• Standard Issue: Edition 4 - May 2008

  12 May 2008

  This publication is for Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) who have signed up to the Respect Standard for Housing Management. It is produced to inform and update RSLs about what is happening in other areas and includes case studies and information provided by RSLs about their main or current issues

• The longer-term outcomes associated with families who had worked with intensive family support projects

  1 May 2008

  Network briefing by Mark Connolly looks specifically at four aspects of the research, including; An overview of outcomes for families, families achieving partial success, the impact of interventions on children’s wellbeing and the impact of IFSPs on communities

• Crime reduction and community safety - the role of the new local performance framework

  11 April 2008

  Publication by CLG and Home Office on how the two new performance frameworks for the police and local government will fit together and highlighting some of the implications for those delivering at a local level

• Registered Social Landlords and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships: Improving Engagement

  27 February 2008

  This guidance note is aimed at CDRPs and Registered Social Landlords in England. It focuses on the change in status of RSLs within the membership structure of CDRPs in England, which took place on 31 July 2007 and was designed to help create better engagement and co-operation between RSLs and partnerships

• Help for landlords to tackle anti-social behaviour

  27 February 2008

  Social landlords are to be given the opportunity to play a greater role in helping clampdown on crime and anti-social behaviour.

• HQN briefing series – ASB questions and answers

  18 February 2008

  Network briefing by Wendy Hayhurst and Natalie Pace provides responses to the most popular and topical questions posed by Housing Quality Network members during late 2007

 

Customer care (complaints handling)

• UK Government signs up to historic European agreement on local democracy

  18 November 2009

  Local Government Minister Rosie Winterton has signed an historic democratic agreement recognising the rights of citizens across Europe to have their views heard by their local leaders

• What does excellence look like? Access and customer care

  15 September 2009

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon looking at the attributes of excellent three-star organisations inspected by the Audit Commission in 2007 and 2008

• Tenant Services Authority and Housing Ombudsman Service Interim Protocol

  6 August 2009

  Protocol to set out the interim arrangements between the TSA and HOS for the exchange of information and to improve the complaints procedures for tenants

• Getting it right, and righting the wrongs - Practitioners' Toolkit

  17 June 2009

  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

• Getting it right, and righting the wrongs

  17 June 2009

  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

• Rewarding awards?

  11 July 2008

  Network briefing by Cathy Jackson provides a flavour of some of the key awards that are available

• Impact Assessment of National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society: Advice and Information, Rapid Repairs Service

  25 February 2008

  The national strategy for housing in an ageing society (the Strategy) includes a number of key initiatives and recommendations, two of which are subject to, and included in, this impact assessment: (i) new advice and information services, and (ii) a rapid repairs service

 

Other policy developments

• Overall employment rate

  9 February 2010

  Working age population at neighbourhood level (in deprived areas), England

• The Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF) Scoping Study

  4 February 2010

  The Working Neighbourhoods Fund Scoping Study report provides an overview of the nature and scale of the worklessness problem in WNF areas and the strategies in place to tackle it

• Housing Benefit toolkit for social housing providers

  28 January 2010

  The Network's popular self-assessment toolkit by Sue Beasor

  Additional files:

  • Word version for completion purposes

• Tackling worklessness together

  15 December 2009

  Speech by The Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Local Government and Regional Minister for Yorkshire and Humber

• National fraud initiative

  3 December 2009

  2010/11 proposed work programme and scale of fees

• Topping the charts: a look at best companies schemes

  26 November 2009

  Network briefing by Kate Murray

• Personalisation and individual budgets: challenge or opportunity?

  10 November 2009

  Network briefing by Helena Taylor Knox

• Young people to get green-fingered apprenticeships

  5 November 2009

  Communities Secretary John Denham has announced plans to recruit 175 green-fingered apprentices to get parks and gardens growing in some of the country's most deprived areas

• Work and worklessness in deprived neighbourhoods

  28 October 2009

  This Joseph Rowntree study contrasts policy assumptions about work and worklessness with the personal experiences of residents living in deprived neighbourhoods

• Over £180m further investment for more council housing

  29 September 2009

  Housing Minister John Healey has launched the second phase of the biggest council house building programme for almost two decades. He also stated that councils must include details of how they will create new apprenticeship schemes if they expect to get a slice of government cash

• Local Government must spend £42 billion better

  29 September 2009

  Local Government must use its £42 billion buying power to innovate and shape markets, said Communities Secretary John Denham

• Housing associations must raise their game in the downturn

  29 September 2009

  Housing Minister John Healey has called on housing associations to raise their game and do more to create new apprenticeship opportunities and help people get on the housing ladder and stay in their homes during the downturn. Any housing association bidding for a share of the £7.5 billion available for affordable housing will for the first time now be required to offer apprenticeship and local job opportunities

• Housing and jobs boost for coalfield communities

  22 September 2009

  Housing Minister John Healey has announced a multi-million pound boost to job opportunities in coalfield communities during the downturn

• HQN annual conference

  25 August 2009

  Network briefing by Kate Murray details each of the presentations at this year's HQN annual conference

• Rationalisation of housing stock: which way forward in the new era?

  28 July 2009

  Network briefing by Charlie Hughes offers some thoughts on how a range of significant changes in the operating environment – from the creation of the Tenant Services Authority to the economic downturn – might affect the rationalisation agenda

• Recession in Wales: nearly half the unemployed are under twenty five

  4 June 2009

  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

• Complaints/compliments toolkit

  26 May 2009

  The Network's popular self-assessment toolkit by Gill Stead

  Additional files:

  • Word version for completion purposes

• Councils to lead job creation plans

  19 May 2009

  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

• Building Britain's future - Social enterprise to be part of £1 billion job creation drive

  14 May 2009

  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

• Call on councils to help more young people into work

  29 April 2009

  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

• Demonstrating sustainability of housing organisations

  14 April 2009

  Network briefing by Richard Lupo describes the benefit of demonstrating sustainability for a social housing provider

• Workforce development plan

  31 March 2009

  Network briefing by Bill Fullen and Jennifer Aston looks in detail at the fundamental issues, which are key to the development of successful workforce planning

• Funding for Aylesham approved

  16 March 2009

  The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has confirmed that it has approved a £6m investment for the employment and training requirements of Aylesham in Kent, in recognition of the needs of the former coalfield community

• The role of Housing Associations in responding to the economic downturn

  5 March 2009

  Speech by The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Minister for Housing and Planning

• Tackling Worklessness: A Review of the contribution and role of local authorities and partnerships - Final report

  3 March 2009

  The final report of Stephen Houghton's Tackling Worklessness Review contains the review team's recommendations on how successful multi-agency and cross-sector local partnerships can best tackle worklessness in their communities

• Helping jobless must be council priority during downturn

  3 March 2009

  Ministers have welcomed a new report setting out practical measures to support councils' efforts to boost employment in their areas. In his report Cllr Stephen Houghton, Leader of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, calls for an increase in the number of council apprenticeships and 'work taster' programmes, streamlining and pooling of financial support from both local and central government, and immediate efforts by councils to assess how the downturn is affecting their areas, and to develop plans to tackle it

• The Working Neighbourhoods Fund 2009-2011: Revising the Third Criterion consultation - Government response

  6 February 2009

  On 4 November 2008, the government published a consultation paper seeking views on proposals for revising the third criterion used to determine eligibility for the Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF) for 2009 to 2011. This document sets out the key points raised by the local authorities and individuals who submitted their opinions on the proposals, and the government's response to those key points

• How the social housing sector can help to tackle worklessness

  16 December 2008

  Network briefing paper by Sheila Spencer focuses on the work that has been done by housing associations, arm’s-length management organisations (ALMOs), and local authorities, individually and in partnership with other housing organisations to tackle worklessness

• LEGI update report

  16 December 2008

  This report reviews the initial development phase of the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) programme in terms of delivery and progress towards key objectives

• Programmes to promote employment for disabled people: Lessons from the United States

  11 December 2008

  This DWP report reviews evaluation findings from the US experience in providing return-to-work supports for people with disabilities and discusses the implications for similar efforts in the UK. The report provides lessons for developing and evaluating future UK employment initiatives, especially for people with severe psychiatric conditions and long-term disability claimants

• Guidance on standards for the establishment and operation of drug consumption rooms in the UK

  4 December 2008

  Joseph Rowntree Housing report which provides essential guidance for local multi-agency partnerships that are contemplating establishing and operating a drug consumption room (DCR) in the UK

• Tackling worklessness in NDC areas - a policy and practice update

  4 December 2008

  This paper draws out lessons from four NDC programmes' efforts to tackle worklessness, giving examples of progress made, the problems faced and projects used to address them and provides a guide to some of the issues relevant to neighbourhood level interventions to tackle worklessness

• Overall Employment rate (working age population) at neighbourhood level (in deprived areas), England, April 2007/March 2008

  28 November 2008

  The baseline data measuring Departmental Strategic Objective 3.7: Overall Employment rate (working age population) at neighbourhood level (in deprived areas). The release covers the baseline data for the most deprived areas in Working Neighbourhood Fund (WNF) areas and the rest of England, for April 2007-March 2008

• Tackling Worklessness: A Review of the contribution and role of local authorities and partnerships - Interim Report

  28 November 2008

  The Interim Report of Stephen Houghton's Tackling Worklessness Review contains the Review team's current thinking on how successful multi-agency and cross-sector local partnerships can best tackle worklessness in their communities

• Addressing worklessness with social housing tenants through targeted outreach

  26 November 2008

  Complimentary SUNnet briefing paper describes why it is such an important issue for social landlords, and shows how Unity Housing Association has addressed it by developing the Tenants Into Work (TIW) model of partnership working and outreach

• The British 'welfare market': Lessons from contracting out welfare to work programmes in Australia and the Netherlands

  21 November 2008

  Jospeh Rowntree report which looks in detail at the development and impact of the Australian and Dutch welfare markets

• More councils to offer homes and jobs advice

  21 November 2008

  Sixty councils will benefit from increased funding to boost their housing and employment advice options for local residents, announced Communities Minister Iain Wright

• Public officials and community involvement in local services

  6 November 2008

  This Joseph Rowntree study examines community involvement in local services with an emphasis on the role of public officials – officers and managers employed by public bodies

• Flexible working is vital in economic downturn

  22 October 2008

  The Equality and Human Rights Commission have said that flexible working is vital to a modern economy preparing for the turbulent times ahead

• Lifting the Burdens Task Force: a review of Economic Development and Regeneration

  22 October 2008

  This is the penultimate review from the Task Force and has taken place in the context of the Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR) and the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR)

• Devising and delivering masterplanning at neighbourhood level: Some lessons from the New Deal for Communities Programme

  18 September 2008

  This report identifies some of the main issues, learning points and practical dilemmas from NDC involvement in masterplanning

• Community engagement: Some lessons from the New Deal for Communities Programme

  18 September 2008

  This report outlines the experiences of NDC partnerships in developing and implementing their approaches and strategies for community engagement

• Communications: Some lessons from the New Deal for Communities Programme

  18 September 2008

  The purpose of this report is to show how New Deal for Communities partnerships have communicated their messages to a range of different stakeholders and audiences looking at different communication methods, the range of messages communicated and what has worked well

• Charity begins at home - new action to get homeless into work

  11 September 2008

  A major new initiative to help give the chance of a job to more people who have experienced homelessness has been announced by Housing Minister Caroline Flint

• St Basils starter homes initiative for young people

  4 September 2008

  Network briefing by Jean Templeton looks at the research, which aims to demonstrate how a new type of medium-term supported housing could help young people gain the stability they need

• Social Housing and Worklessness

  26 August 2008

  Key findings of DWP research report that sets out to explain the relatively high levels of worklessness apparent within the social rented sector

• West Kent Housing Association/West Kent Extra case study on ‘worklessness'

  22 July 2008

  Complimentary SUNnet briefing for Network members by Eammon Dillon, West Kent Extra, where they are tackling worklessness and disengagement, primarily through volunteering and employment opportunities in community projects

• Twelve council 'trailblazers' to offer homes and jobs advice

  8 July 2008

  Advice on training, employment and childcare are just some of the extra services that will be on offer to people when they discuss their housing options with their local authority said Housing Minister Caroline Flint, as she announced the winners of the first of two programmes of 'trailblazers'

• Local initiatives to help workless people find and keep paid work

  30 June 2008

  Joseph Rowntree report into Worklessness

• Target shake up delivers stronger focus on issues that matter to the public

  30 June 2008

  The results of a comprehensive shake up of council targets and priorities are now published. The priorities - agreed in partnership with central government - show the pattern of issues across England that councils will now have to grapple with over the next three years. Councils will now need to devote considerable energy to ensuring their communities feel safer, that tackling serious violence and anti-social behaviour is a major priority, and that tackling unemployment and teenage pregnancy is comprehensively addressed

• Preparations for digital TV transmission in rented housing

  17 June 2008

  Network briefing by Mike Kelly, Arena Housing, is intended to give an outline of Arena Housing’s experience, so far, in getting an extensive programme of work under way to convert communal TV aerials for digital reception

• Tackling overcrowding

  10 June 2008

  Network briefing paper by Wendy Murphy examines the actions being taken by the five pilot London boroughs, and others, to tackle overcrowding

• Reaching Out - working with ethnic communities in housing

  9 June 2008

  Complimentary SUNnet briefing for Network members on addressing the issues surrounding worklessness

• New drive to get long term unemployed back to work

  29 May 2008

  Local Government Minister John Healey has announced details of a new review team to advise how steps to improve our most disadvantaged communities can make a real difference

• Gold awards

  14 May 2008

  The winners of the prestigious Housing Corporation’s Gold Awards 2007 have now been announced. There were three themes for the annual awards which were presented by Housing Minister, Caroline Flint

• Healey confirms TUPE protections for staff moving to new unitary councils

  12 May 2008

  Local Government Minister John Healey has published the framework - regulations and guidance - which the Government intends to put in place for the transfer and appointment of staff to the new unitary councils

• Helping To Create More Prosperous Places

  1 April 2008

  Ministers have today laid the foundations for sweeping reforms to bring about a renaissance in England's most deprived areas. Under proposed new legislation, top tier councils would be given a duty to assess the economic conditions of their area, including employment and skills needs, and the infrastructure needed to support sustainable economic growth - including housing and transport investment

• Flint announces next steps to link housing advice and opportunities

  20 March 2008

  Housing Minister Caroline Flint has announced a package of measures to step-up action to tackle worklessness, promote opportunity and strengthen the link between access to housing services, training and jobs

• Working Neighbourhoods Fund allocations

  27 February 2008

  CLG Good practice and guidance, Reports and summaries

 

Health and safety

• What does excellence look like? Access and customer care

  15 September 2009

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon looking at the attributes of excellent three-star organisations inspected by the Audit Commission in 2007 and 2008

• Report by the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser on emerging issues arising from the fire at Lakanal House, Camberwell

  7 August 2009

  Emerging findings from the investigation Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser on the independent overview of progress with the fire investigations into the tragic fire in Camberwell and letter to local housing authorities from CLG. The TSA has been asked to write separately to housing associations

  Additional files:

  • Click here to download CLG update

  • Click here to download report on emerging issues

• Risks of infection at work

  14 July 2009

  Complimentary SAFETYnet briefing, by Morag Brown, which covers a very topical issue, taking a look at 'risks from infections' giving you some things to think about, along with links for you to find more information if you require

• Health and safety journey to excellence

  4 February 2009

  An exclusive narrated PowerPoint presentation by SAFETYnet member Jas Sidhu, Head of Property Services at Mercian Housing Association. Jas sets out Mercian’s 5-step journey toward health and safety excellence. Originally presented at the SAFETYnet Stay out of jail event in Solihull on 28 January 2009, Jas recreates this inspirational story of leadership and engagement through his narration of Mercian’s journey. For more information about SAFETYnet contact at safetynet@hqnetwork.co.uk