Birmingham presses ahead with 'radical' devolution of housing services

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Local Government

Birmingham City Council is pressing ahead with its “radical” devolution of housing services.

The new Labour administration hit the headlines in May after it announced it was dropping housing as a dedicated cabinet role and was planning to devolve day-to-day management to local communities.

The new leadership – led by Sir Albert Bore – wants to "radically devolve" housing management to 10 local district communities who will have responsibilities for tenancies, repairs and day-to-day management.

Birmingham - which owns and manages nearly 65,000 homes and is the UK’s largest stock holding council – is now consulting on the new structure.

It wants to set up new District Housing Panels – to replace Housing Liaison Boards – which will have direct representation on District Committees.

The council says the panels will provide a “vital link” between housing services and tenants and provide a “stronger voice” for council tenants by enabling them to have a real say in shaping repairs, allocations and the management of homes.

Sir Albert Bore, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The consultation is about truly engaging with tenants.  This approach is about the devolution of power, a potent driver in ensuring tenant engagement is inclusive.

“There is important and significant work to be done, and we want District Housing Panels to play a full role in the council’s approach.  Giving them greater links to new integrated management teams in the Local Services Directorate with decision-making by District Committees.

“These proposals are not about restructuring the service delivery for the sake of it.  We will build on the good work of the Housing Liaison Board which is why I aim to retain the self-financing HRA model.  As a council we will continue our investment in housing stock, building new homes to meet the housing need and driving up the quality of housing services.”

Housing was a cabinet role under the previous Conservative administration and was held by councillor John Lines. However, in the new look cabinet, its functions are dispersed into different portfolios.

The new look cabinet posts will have members covering health and wellbeing; social cohesion and equalities; children and family services; green, safe and smart city; commissioning, contracting and improvement and development, jobs and skills.

Sir Albert Bore will be leading on housing and will be responsible for the financial strategy for housing and the physical regeneration programmes. The health and well being portfolio will be responsible for housing-related support.

The consultation is aimed primarily at tenants of Birmingham City Council and will run for 12 weeks from July 19 to 5pm on October 11.