CIH has submitted a response to the consultation on the terms of reference of the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire with the National Federation of ALMOs (arm’s-length management organisations, Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH) and Inside Housing to put together a joint submission.
Here is their response:
Joint response to TOR – CIH ARCH NFA Inside Housing 4 August
Local authorities in London are preparing to be as transparent as possible with their fire risk assessments.
Their commitment is to open up a dialogue with residents through full disclosure. Transparency and debunking the jargon is a priority for us, and as a small local landlord, doing this through individual conversation, newsletter fire safety advice, listening and feeding back is our preference.
With advice from the London Fire Brigade, HAs are digesting the recommendations in the newly published fire safety guidance for specialised housing from the National Fire Chiefs Council.
Peter Bedford, one of the small HAs in the G320 commented in an article in 24 Housing – they have built the guidance into a new fire safety policy which we are consulting on currently.
The UK economy is set to undergo significant change in the coming years. The impact of rapidly advancing technology, an ageing population and exiting the EU will leave our economy looking very different by 2030.
Here is the report from IPPR:
Having an effectively functioning adult skills system will be crucial if we are to manage the impact of these trends, to shape them and to turn them to our advantage. However, there is serious cause for concern that our adult skills system is not fit for purpose today, let alone fit to face the challenges ahead.
In this report, we set out an approach to adult skills that would better meet the needs of learners, employers and the economy in the future.
Skills policy is devolved and this report focuses on the English skills system. It follows Scotland Skills 2030 which examined the same issues from the distinct perspective of Scotland.
Meanwhile, they comment on finance
Reforming financial markets is key to upgrading the UK to a high-investment, high-productivity and high-paying economy.
A new working paper from the IPPR Commission on Economic Justice proposes three essential reforms.
UK house prices grew three percentage points more slowly in the year following the EU referendum compared to the year before
While house prices grew by 8.2% in the year leading up to the EU referendum, in the year since they have grown by only 4.9%, according to the Office for National Statistics’ House Price Index, which has now covered the year to June 2017.
The slowdown, however, has not changed much in 2017, with price growth remaining steady at around 5% for the first half of the year.
The Homelessness Reduction Act will come into force from April next year, the Department for Communities and Local Government has told councils.
The government has set aside £61m to distribute between councils to fund the new responsibilities they will face under the act, including intervening at an earlier stage to prevent homelessness and an expected increase in reviews when a person is not deemed to be priority need. There are concerns that will not cover costs.
In a letter to councils, homelessness minister Marcus Jones said it had not been decided how the funding. Allocations will be announced in the autumn with the first payments expected to be made in the winter.
Government officials have been reviewing the Homelessness Code of Guidance with the input of a working group of councils and other homelessness organisations, and plan to publish a draft for consultation in the autumn, with the final code published next spring.
Meanwhile in research terms, rough sleeping is set to rise:
The analysis carried out by Heriot-Watt University academics found that if current homelessness policies remain unchanged, then the estimated number of rough sleepers could shoot up by 76% – from 9,100 in 2016 to 16,000 in 2026.
The report also looked at other forms of homelessness including households who are sofa surfing, those in unsuitable temporary accommodation, in hostels and in other circumstances such as sleeping in tents or cars.
The report estimates that at any one time in 2016 across Britain, there were:
The academics warned that these overall numbers are estimated to increase by 26.5% over the next 10 years and the number of households in unsuitable temporary accommodation is set to nearly double, up by 93%.
The supply of homes to rent set to fall as demand increases.
The Residential Landlord Association’s (RLA) latest quarterly research, finds also that 33% of landlords have seen an increase in demand for homes to rent over the past three years.
Faced by an imbalance in the supply and demand for rental properties, 47% landlords indicated that they expected to increase rents over the next year.
And 35% indicated that the changes to mortgage interest relief which will see landlords taxed on their turnover rather than their profit, unlike all other businesses, was the main reason why rents might increase.
According to the survey of almost 3,000 landlords published, 22% plan to sell at least one of their properties over the next year – with just 18% planning to buy additional properties to rent.
Government figures for ‘spare homes’ show highest level in 20 years, with 1.4 million homes left empty for over six months.
Figures published show that nearly a quarter of a million people are experiencing acute forms of homelessness across Britain, with rough sleeping set to rise by 76 per cent in the next decade unless the government takes long-term action to tackle the problem.
A total of 159,000 households are sleeping rough or living in unsuitable temporary accommodation and experiencing other forms of acute homelessness, marking a rise of nearly a third since 2011, according to Crisis. Of these, 57,000 are ‘family’ households – consisting of 82,000 adults and 50,000 children – indicating that a growing number of families are being forced out of their housing and forced to live in unsuitable conditions.
Running a home now sucks up 83% of total monthly income for homeowners earning the national average wage, a new report reveals.
In their Cost of Running a Home report, home insurer MORE TH>N says this leaves just £347 spare each month for every other living expense.
The running costs for an average three bedroom home remain un-affordable for national average wage earners, it exceeds 100% of total earnings for 29% of homeowners and 25% of renters.
Taking central London out of the data, the report exposes the stark contrast in the monthly costs to live in a three bedroom home in different parts of the country:
| Monthly Costs | First | Second | Third |
| Cheapest – home owners | £813.51 – Neath Port Talbot | £856.27 Antrim, | £861.48 Derry/Londonderry |
| Most expensive – home owners | £2236.18 Cambridge | £2082.68 Stratford-Upon-Avon | £2059.99 Worthing |
| Cheapest – renters | £841.18 Omagh, NI | £880.36 Derry/Londonderry | £890.10 Antrim, NI |
| Most expensive – renters | £2157.93 Oxford, | £2141.20 Croydon | £1924.82 Cambridge |
The federation, which represents the UK construction industry, called for measures announced in February’s Housing White Paper to be put into practice.
It was responding to a Local Government Association (LGA) report which claims the average new home will have to last 2,000 years if current rates of house-building continue.
It is almost six months after the White Paper was published and there has been limited movement on a range of policies that if implemented, could start making a difference.
S.Net 13th July 2017
Thanks to Sadeh Lok for hosting.
New VFM standard – Measuring quality
Here is the first presentation, we look at the Housemark Acuity proposed indicators which HAs have been piloting on VFM – about 200 HAs are piloting collating this information.
Entries of data were in June 2017, the results are awaited
The most recent information suggests only tenant satisfaction will be measures – so it’s mainly financial, development style metrics.
We debated what this meant for the VFM standard which includes communication with stakeholders – the biggest of which are tenants.
Most landlords have struggled to involve tenants in VFM discussions.
Some scrutiny panels have moved to trying to express their reporting in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and economic recommendations – e.g. SLH
Many involved tenants have had more training on VFM than their staff counterparts.
We wondered if the interest of tenants was the same as that of Boards when it came to VFM.
The VFM standard was ready pre-election and then held back for Purdah and then Grenfell.
It is due out any day now and will be for consultation for a period of about 2-3 months.
We can return to this at a future meeting.
At best this year, most had run their VFM statement past a Consultative Panel or a Scrutiny Group – there was still time to have a big conversation on quality, but with such statements usually being led by internally facing teams, this was down to persuasion, appetite and time of staff to do this.
Most had relied on publication of results on the website in a customer friendly manner – like Four Housing Group, Torus and Thirteen.
It was not clear if a published statement is required in 2018, this will depend on the standard proposed by the HCA.
It was felt important that we move to a point of quality being as important and that tenants can be the best judges of that quality.
Ideas:
Tenant and Community Organisations
See continual presentation under VFM above.
We debated the tenant and community associations which people supported.
Most landlords had retained a scrutiny panel or similar but generally now moved to TARAs being self-supporting or at best supported occasionally by local neighbourhood teams.
SLH does everything through a Community Trust Panel – scrutiny – 15 members.
SLH community team focuses on employability of tenants.
Southway does the same with 7 members, but also currently has task and finish groups for energy advice, digital inclusion and website and 9 groups which are fully or partly constituted which they support – there are rules in constitutions etc about regular meetings and numbers on committees, AGMs etc and at least 2 public open meetings a year.
They also have a resident consultative group – with TARAs having 2 places on this groups, if they want to take them up
They fully support set up, room hire and some fundraising.
They offer treasurer and chair training and other training and support as identified.
Sadeh Lok
Have a community resilience team which now supports TARAs in neighbourhoods.
Connect Residents associations are supported, but Liz is responsible for scrutiny – there are a raft of committees of service improvement and other groups – this is currently under review.
Connect have a committee twice a year with a few hundred attending.
TARAs get a small amount of funding for community services.
Tenants are getting involved in HA assurance.
Leeds have 82 groups, of which 40 are active. They have a voluntary sector constitution which they consider to be the best model.
Local Housing staff support the TARAs when they are struggling – this is a default positions.
The inv team expect an AGM, which their team supports.
½ of them need support to survive.
They have looked at West Yorkshire Community Accounting – to review the way they fund groups and recognise groups.
The homes covered are close to 600 in some HAs.
They try to ensure about probity and training received by the groups to do their work.
Here is the information promised by Ian at LCC:
The TARA ‘service offer’ – what our commitments are to support and engage with TARAs, community groups and ‘area reps’ (like block champions)
Leeds Tenants Federation’s – TARA Guide – lots of useful information for TARAs like managing money, safeguarding, PLI etc
A link to WYCAS – West Yorkshire Community Accounting Service, something really valued by Tenants groups in Leeds that we have a partnership agreement with, helping us support and be that Council enabling sort of role.
Leeds Tenant Federation
This is a separate company supported by the Council
They provide training to HA and Leeds CC groups.
There is a resurgence of activity in the Fed
They don’t encourage chairs, but mainly a team working TARA
Many involved are of a retirement age as they have the time
But the council works with them to share ideas of mutual benefit and support and to share information.
Resources mean that LCC is not proactive – officer feel there could be much more information from communities if this link was strengthened.
They follow the ABCD method.
They share their service offer with TARAs for comment, in return for delivery of the constitution and following the Leeds Fed guide for safeguarding, insurance and hints and tips on running a group well.
The approach is welcomed.
Such links were crucial post Grenfell – 116 drop ins in the multi flats.
Letting people know what was happening
Made great use of their data base of local groups
Met in sheds, community rooms and gardening clubs – saturated the information to get a broad reach.
They have 40-50 community rooms in 116 multis.
No asset register – which they will now pursue
No key for own rooms
Not capturing the information well – will learn from this experience
Decision statement tenant involvement
Decision_Statement_-_amendment_to_TIE_Standard
Tenant_Involvement_and_Empowerment_Standard
We discussed the minor changes that this brings – but important that Customer involvement is included in mergers, changes of structures of governance and disposals which we all felt to be positive.
The standard is outcome based and does not comment or support the depth of consultation required.
Yvonne chatted about the test of opinion (not the vote) that had been involved in the Coblat demerger, that might be required for merger or similar.
Data Sharing
We discussed the complexities of data sharing with new data protection requirements coming in.
We felt we needed more info.
Yvonne to persuade a friend to give her more info, to ensure we are compliant for mystery shopping etc.
Ideas to comply
On the couch and update
SLH
Under 35’s strategy
Looking at employment and education – who is impaired and who SLH can we help
Can supported and sheltered housing tenants help?
we also discussed the need for tenants to have a right first time understanding of the tenancy.
Here is some paperwork on this from Cathy at SLH
Template_Assured Tenancy Agreement
and
First time tenancy workshops – SLH
(Information relating to Mobility scooters is in section 3.17)
There is also a link below for group to view the first time tenancy workshops that we run at SLH which I am currently reviewing together with handouts attached. I can go through at meeting if you like?
http://prezi.com/gamstyxuipky/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
Grenfell
SLH Scrutiny Panel have requested H&S information and asset management information post Grenfell
Presentation completed, they felt well informed
SLH Walk about Wednesday once a month – focused on giving out H&S information – whole team walk the streets.
Twice a month, the environmental team visit communal areas.
Have revamped electric testing and fire notices in communal areas
Sheltered tenants have complained about sterile environment – but this was a good time to take the trinkets away and support the understanding of this
Many issues on mobility scooters in schemes and discussions on their removal to a safe place outside or a store inside.
Here is the mobility policy they promised to share:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
SLH sent a letter to everyone, put info on the notice board, visited schemes, made calls to vulnerable tenants.
Labelled things to be remove d in 14 days if they had not been claimed or moved and helped people dispose or take effects inside their flat – with safety in mind.
2 weekly visits continue to check on this
551 flats were door knocked and fire safety leaflet pushed through the door.
Fobs and keys to building located.
Thinking about sprinklers
Already do fire alarm testing
Explained how people would get out in the case of a fire.
Southway
Went out to estates the day after the fire and viably inspected all blocks. Not many flats – only those with 3 floors.
They produce an overview of fire and safety for residents by housing management and property services officers.
Connect
They have concerns about mobility scooters in flats – difficult subject. All agreed.
They also checked electrical safety.
We discussed the issues of the fridge potentially causing the fire – some organisations are debating going in to check the electrical appliances of tenants – difficult issues
Leeds – 116 blocks of flats
Initially – all staff were out talking to tenants in flats – delivering a list of do’s and don’ts’ s with other advice in the case of fire. All hand delivered
They have 23 different systems of cladding inc. spray on rendering over insulation.
There have been 100(ish) face to face sessions in blocks, the council learnt a lot about how easy it was to contact people and invite them down to community centres – but also that they needed to understand how and who used them more and who was the key holder.
Only 5 blocks have no cladding and sprinklers
Since then they have developed a bespoke leaflet in the case of fire.
They had a mobile office which has come into its own – we offered opportunities for tenant to come and talk to us.
Leeds are looking at sprinklers – as we think this will come as a requirement – not decision yet – early days.
Leeds are investigating the management issues that the fire has flagged including:
Many tenants have passed on advice to their neighbours on fire safety and they have become more alerts to reports things which could be a future hazard to LCC.
Balconies have also been cleared of hazards
We are no collating feedback from Blocks to a separate e mail address.
A variety of moods and passions have been displayed at meetings;
Leeds have a High Rise working group pre-Grenfell, they have had a special meeting with the Heads of Service.
Tenant involvement team have been in the “war room”, supplying information and supporting all of this work with community and resident associations – they have been co-ordinating information, they have considered:
Sadeh Lok
Very few low-rise accommodation
They have a zero tolerance to H&S hazards on landings – scooters etc.
Incommunities
They have been looking at key holders for roof areas and also who does not know their neighbours and how they can address these issues
Sadeh Lok Scrutiny Panel 1-year review of Operation
Have 17 members, currently 11 active ones
They are reviewing TORs and discussed their review of an independent chair v a tenant chair
They asked for experience of members on this
Experience was mixed, most had a tenant chair
Generally, the chair was expected to lead and have increased activity from other tenants on the panel re liaison and some had tried an independent chair
For example: – LMH had an independent chair who was also their link to the Committee of the board – this worked well for 6 years with a strong panel – but when he left – the voids meant others left soon after and now the panel is down to just 4 members from 12
For example – Northwards have, in the past, asked a would-be Board Member to work with the panel until a vacancy comes up for the board
Performance reporting for Scrutiny
Leeds share their KPIs with the SP, including SP outcomes and successes
Tenants/staff are interested in diversity of involvement and progress on involvement
Reports go to officers and tenants on tenant engagement
SLH perf team share the monthly performance data with the Panel and managers open themselves up to scrutiny.
Southway share progress on tasks and projects and team Perf KPIs with tenants – numbers and quality
Leeds have an A3 dashboard and are looking at time banking and community investment and how to calculate this – good also for marketing for the organisation.
They meet and support about 40 tenant’s groups formally a year and maintain a register of outcomes.
They are looking at ways to capture up to date data which records tenant activity and asked who also did this. They hope to capture this against organisational objectives.
LMH have just purchased the Orchard app for this, but feel that it will be hard for non-involvement staff to distinguish when they have done something related to involvement as they see it as part of their general work
