Ealing Conference 15th November 2003 Martin Thomas ODPM’s Community Housing Task Force

agenda Why ALMOs…..? What is an ALMO……?

WHAT’S NEW? “For more than 30 years this country has lost its way. All governments failed to meet housing need. We did not invest in the long term” John Prescott

G overnment target To bring all social housing into a decent condition by 2010: –1.6 million social rented homes (42% of the stock) were non-decent in April 2001 –A small group of mainly inner city local authorities account for nearly two- thirds (1.1 million) of the non-decent stock

WHATS NEW? COMMUNITIES PLAN February 2003 Vision for the Future Decent Homes a high priority….. Recognise backlog of disrepair Improved ALMOs as a way of getting money into Council Housing

ALMOs - key aims Driving up housing standards by: investing in repairs and improvements improving housing management creating housing organisations directly controlled by a majority of council and tenant nominees

ALMOs – key features Tenants remain secure tenants of the Council - all rights remain - Council still sets rents and overall policy Board with representation of tenants, the Council and independents, normally with no group in a majority Ownership of stock does not transfer from the Council - but responsibilities and money does ALMO wholly owned by the Council Extra money linked to good housing management

ALMOs - how do they work? Council delegates services retains ownership and responsibility ALMO provides services tenants are still council tenants Tenant board members

ALMOs – responsibilities Homelessness obligations Lettings & rent policy Providing resources Private sector renewal Setting standards & monitoring ALMO performance    Rent and arrears collection Tenant participation & consultation Repairs & improvements Enforcing tenancy conditions Estate management Environmental protection    CouncilALMO

ALMOs – the process If awarded at least 2*, eligible to draw extra funds8 Inspection by the Housing Inspectorate7 ALMO goes live and operates for at least 6 months6 s.27 approval to delegate responsibilities5 ALMO runs as shadow body4 Conditional ££££ allocation3 i] Expression of interest - summary sheet ii] Bid – full details2 Option Appraisal1

Funding for ALMOs £1,994 million under Sustainable Communities Plan –£323 million in 2003/04 –£852 million in 2004/05 –£820 million in 2005/06

ROUND 3 ALLOCATIONS

Progress so far Rounds 1 & 2 –All round 1 ALMOs have qualified for funding –4 of the 18 ALMOs in round 2 had qualified for funding by September –They have generally been spending what they said they would –High levels of tenant support % in Rnd 2 Round 3 –Further 13 local authorities given allocations in July 2003 to begin spending in 2004/5 –1 in 5 council homes (550,000 units) now covered by ALMO proposals Round 4 –Expressions of Interests 26 September 2003 –19 Bids, 300k homes, £2179m

TENANT SUPPORT Rnd 1

TENANT SUPPORT Rnd 2

Contact details telephone: – – in writing: –CHTF, 2F8 Eland House, Bressenden Place, LONDON, SW1E 5DU