Kings and Camels

Published by Hannah Wooderson for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government

How was it for you?

Who’s been the most influential person for social housing during 2009? And which event rocked your world? 24housing finds out.

Person: John Healey, Housing Minister

Nominated by -
Alison Inman
Chair
National Federation of ALMOs

John Healey certainly made an impact following his appointment as Housing Minister in June 2009. His proposed changes to housing finance would open the door to a long term and sustainable future for the ALMO sector. Mr Healey declared himself to be a strong supporter of the ALMOs, proven to be one of the most effective forms of social housing management, with 21 three star organisations, more than any other social housing group.

Event: Scrapping of the Housing Revenue Account

Nominated by -
Sarah Webb
Chief Executive
Chartered Institute of Housing

When John Healey announced the scrapping of the national Housing Revenue Account in June, we were delighted. Having campaigned for the government to abandon this archaic and unfair system since 2005, we welcomed it as a major victory. A new system that lets local authorities in England keep council house rents and proceeds from all sales could lead to councils building thousands of new homes and help them deliver quality services.

Person: Gordon Brown, Prime Minister

Nominated by -
David Orr
Chief Executive
National Housing Federation

In theory, I think the housing minister should always be the most influential person in housing. But with due deference to John Healey (who seems to me to be making a pretty good fist of it), continuous changes of minister means that none of them ever gets to be as influential as they should. So my answer is that Gordon Brown has been most influential by being the driving force behind continuing public investment in our work and Grant Shapps has been the person whose ear has been in greatest demand.

Person: Vince Cable MP

Nominated by -
Elaine Elkington
Strategic Director of Housing and Constituencies
Birmingham City Council

Vince Cable MP, for being open and honest about the extent to which the financial crisis has screwed social housing and understanding that after regulation of the banks, the second key action to help pull us out of these problems with housing is for councils to build again.

Event: Kickstart

Nominated by -
Hugh Owen
Director of Policy and Communication
Riverside

After the damp squib of Mortgage Rescue, my vote would go for Kickstart the Government’s initiative to provide gap funding for stalled housing sites. When Phase 2 of this scheme has been committed, around £1billion will have been invested in new provision – housing’s equivalent of quantitative easing. This should be welcomed as a genuine redistribution of resources in an attempt to get house building back on track.

Person: Peter Marsh, Chief Executive, Tenant Services Authority

Nominated by -
Michael Gelling
Chair
TAROE

Peter Marsh has lead the establishment of the TSA, driving forward real and meaningful consultation with tenants through the National Conversation process and the establishment of a regulatory framework that seeks to place tenants in the driving seat.

Person: David Orr, Chief Executive, National Housing Federation (pictured)

Nominated by -
Tom Murtha
Chief Executive
Midland Heart

The most significant figure in social housing during 2009 has been David Orr, for his consistency and dedication in campaigning on behalf of the housing sector. Other key players such as ministers and civil servants have changed, but David has always been a prominent figure, raising the profile of affordable social housing and the needs of customers, which extend well beyond just housing provision. His ability to engage with decision and policy makers is renowned and his passion and commitment for the industry is unrivalled.

Event: Stock transfer funding

Nominated by -
Hugo Stephens
Partner
Cobbetts LLP

The announcement by John Healey that additional government funding for council stock transfers was going to stop could be the most significant event for me of 2009. This will remove one of the key advantages of stock transfers and I would therefore expect them to diminish. Although the Government has created a level playing field between councils who retain their stock and those who transfer it: it’s at the expense of tenants who will not get the extra investment in their homes and estates that stock transfer used to deliver!

Person: Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive, HCA

Nominated by -
Tom Dacey
Chief Executive
Southern Housing Group

Bob Kerslake knows the sector and local government inside out. He has a listening, consultative approach, which has enabled housing associations to share our experience and ideas with him on a collaborative effort to achieve Government targets. It’s easy to forget that Bob was appointed to Chief Executive of the HCA before the economic crisis took hold. In the face of the worst recession the housing sector has ever experienced, he persuaded the Government that there were answers, that there are ways to continue creating affordable housing – and he has delivered.

Event: Recession

Nominated by -
Dave Sheridan
Chief Executive
Apollo Group

Although not a single event, it's difficult to argue that anything has had more short or long term impact than the recession. Many construction companies appear to have taken a more responsible attitude to managing the downturn than in previous recessions, choosing to restructure their finances and work with their employees instead of taking more drastic, reactive action. There will be no quick fix and the sector must ensure it deploys sensible and sustainable strategies avoiding suicidal tender prices or knee-jerk reactions to the next government spending decisions.

Person: Grant Shapps

Nominated by -
Jonathan Driffil
Managing Director
Friendship Care and Housing

I may not agree with all the Conservative’s policies but Grant Shapps, the Shadow Housing Minister has been a true mover and shaker of 2009. He has brought some interesting and thought provoking ideas to the housing sector over the last 12 months. With initiatives such as scrapping the unelected Regional Assemblies, abolishing the Regional Spatial Strategies and dumping Labour’s housing targets, I think Shapps is a figure to watch over the coming years.

Event: ALMO funding delay

Nominated by -
Cathy Deplessis
Chief Executive
Lambeth Living

The decision to defer funding till 2011/12 for those round six ALMOs who had not yet achieved the two star rating from the Audit Commission affects 150,000 council homes. It is a major disappointment for those residents, the councils and the ALMOs who have been working hard to improve services so that homes achieve the Decent Homes standard.

Person: Paul King

Nominated by -
Paul Roche
Director
SIG Sustainable Solutions

I would like to credit Paul King, Chief Executive of the UK Green Building Council UKGBC), for keeping sustainability at the forefront of the housing agenda when, given the economic downturn and pressure to keep building, it could easily be ignored. While the delivery of new homes seems to continually take precedence, the UKGBC has continued to drive the importance of low carbon refits to improve the performance of existing properties.