Shared housing plans for East Kent take a step forward

Plans to establish a shared service organisation, which would manage council housing in East Kent, have been agreed in principle by Thanet District Council.

The proposals would see the establishment of a management company, jointly owned by Canterbury City, Ashford Borough and Thanet, Dover and Shepway District Councils, which would manage the 21,000 homes owned by the five councils.

Following this decision, the five councils now intend to start detailed consultation with their tenants to gauge the level of support. This consultation will be concluded by next summer and a final decision will be made later next year with the new arrangements coming into effect in April 2010

Staff who currently deliver the housing service in each of the authorities would then transfer over to the new company, which will be accountable to its own board. Members on this board are likely to include councillors, tenants and independent members.

Its hoped that the new way of working would lead to improvements in service, cost reductions and efficiencies.

Cllr. Zita Wiltshire, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: These proposals aim to further improve the service received by council housing tenants across East Kent. Its also about making the best possible use of our resources in the face of increasing financial pressures. The Housing Revenue Account, which funds council housing, is under pressure in every authority. By joining together, we hope to both benefit from cost savings and also provide a better service to our tenants.

The proposals are going to the Cabinet meetings of each of the five authorities for an in-principle decision and will also be considered by the East Kent Joint Arrangements Committee and the East Kent Joint Scrutiny Committee.

ENDS