Commission to shape future of council housing

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing

Eminent housing lawyer Jan Luba QC is to lead a commission into the future of council housing in Southwark which is likely to have a major influence on local authority thinking across the country.

The commission, which will also include former Tenant Services Authority chief executive Peter Marsh and Kate Henderson, chief executive of the Town and Country Planning Association, will be the first of its kind to examine the current council housing system's medium and long-term prospects.

It will also explore options for the financing, ownership and operation of Southwark’s council housing stock, which is the largest in London, comprising 39,000 council rented homes and 16,700 council leasehold properties.

The commission is expected to attract attention from other councils facing long term funding concerns over investment in council housing. It will be taking evidence from tenants, leaseholders, residents and other stakeholders and will present its findings to Southwark council in October 2012.

According to the council, without substantial investment Southwark faces a major housing crisis. The housing waiting list exceeds 19,000 and significant are needed to repair and improve existing homes. The Commission will focus on the council housing funding gap and propose an investment strategy for the next 30 years.

Jan Luba QC, said: “For understandable reasons, much of the recent thinking about council housing has focused on short term issues. In contrast, this Commission will be taking a considered and informed look at the future of council housing in the longer term.

"I am delighted to be leading a Commission of experts in this nine-month exercise of research, consultation and reflection, designed to produce a report mapping-out realistic options and opportunities for the people of Southwark.” 

Councillor Ian Wingfield, cabinet member for housing at Southwark Council, said: "Southwark Council's housing commission is unique in that it is fully independent. I feel it’s important for residents to see the current housing situation has been stringently considered by people of the highest calibre and expertise and I have every confidence that the team will produce the goods for Southwark residents.

"The commission's role is to direct energy into viable solutions for the future of council housing in the borough and this first meeting will be to form the strategy going forward before beginning to ask residents to get involved."

Jan Luba QC has been actively promoting the development of social welfare law, and housing law in particular, for over 25 years. He has chaired the Legal Action Group and the Free Representation Unit. He was an early member of the Housing Law Practitioner's Association (serving for many years on its executive and as Vice Chair). He has been shortlisted for a Human Rights Lawyer of the Year Award and was the Legal Aid Barrister of the Year 2007.

Commissioners include:

• Professor Christine Whitehead (Director of the Centre of Housing, Cambridge University)
• David Miles (Chief Executive of Mears) 
• Peter Marsh (Consultant and former Chief Executive of the Tenant Services Authority) 
• Kate Henderson (Chief Executive of the Town and Country Planning Association) 
• Michael Collins (Journalist) 
• Ben Shimshon (Director at Britain Thinks) 
• David Thomas (Solicitor) 
• Marianne Hood (Co-Chair of Voluntary & Community Sector Partnership Board, DCLG and former Chief Executive of the Tenant Participation Advisory Service)
• Gavin Smart (Assistant Director – Research and Futures at the National Housing Federation) 
• Martin Wheatley (Consultant and former Programme Director for Housing and Environment at the Local Government Association and former Head of Housing and Urban Team at HM Treasury)