The government has launched a call for evidence about the Homes and Communities Agency as it considers whether to axe the body.

According to Inside Housing:

“The Department for Communities and Local Government  published a consultation paper asking a series of questions about the work and performance of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). This is part of a review, announced last month, which will examine whether there is a “continuing need for a non-departmental body” carrying out the HCA’s role.

The call for evidence asks six questions, including whether the HCA’s purpose and priorities are “clear to you and correct for the future”. It is also asking how effectively the HCA carries out its functions, what skills it requires in the future and for views about how efficient the HCA is in delivering its objectives.

The government review will examine each of the agency’s functions and whether they are still needed. The HCA has housing investment powers – it makes grants to providers – and it is also the government’s land disposal agency and the regulator of social housing in England.

The Cabinet Office requires all departments to regularly review their public bodies.

However, the government’s drive to devolve housing investment powers to city regions and plans to deregulate housing associations have led experts to question whether the HCA should continue in its current form.”

 

The deadline for completing the call for evidence survey is 24 March.

IN NUMBERS: HCA IN 2014/15

£1.1bn – total expenditure

£983.2m – grant payments

£4.5bn – value of assets

£2.4bn – grant-in-aid received from DCLG

918 – staff  (average number of FTEs)

£55.2m – staff costs

Source: HCA annual report 2014/15 “