Councils with ALMOs Group Localism and the sub-region: Kent Housing Group ‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’ Embracing localism in response to housing need and aspiration Tracey Kerly – Ashford BC Brian Horton – Kent CC 23 March 2012 Kent Housing Group ‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’

Kent Housing Group ‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’ The Kent Housing Group (KHG) is a forum for social housing organisations in Kent. (LA’s, HA’s, HCA, KDG and the NLA.) Acting as the 'Voice of Housing in Kent' the Group represents the collective voice of Kent's housing bodies, providing advice and a 'Kent perspective' on key issues. KHG encourages joint working, innovation and the sharing of best practice amongst its members.

“This new localist approach is about giving control to local people, local authorities, housing associations and developers…these new freedoms can be used to build more affordable homes.” “So Government is getting out of the way where it needs to, and is supporting you where it can. Ultimately, though, delivery depends on the initiative of providers, and the support of local authorities and local communities. GRANT ON LOCALISM “It is now up to you to deliver the homes we need.” Kent Housing Group ‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’

Kent Housing Group ‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’

6 The Strategy aims to: Reflect as well as influence Government Priorities Be an inclusive process that builds on existing Strategies Promote Innovation Celebrate Examples of Best Practice Add value and contribute to delivery of local ambitions Make a Case for Government Investment Kent Housing Group ‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’

Kent Housing Group ‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’ Deborah White, Chair of KHG and Housing and Communities Director at West Kent Housing: “Kent is very proud of KHG and its many achievements clearly show how working in partnership delivers more than you could separately”. “KHG has also established and maintained a direct link with the political leadership within Kent, ensuring that housing issues are high on the political agenda and that there is strong consistency and coherence on housing at District, County and Unitary level.” “KHG is also looking to develop a Kent-wide common framework for Tenancy Strategies, putting in place a coherent approach to the new tenancy regime which will create a level playing field for the Housing Associations operating in Kent and ensure consistency for tenants.” LOVELY WORDS…BUT WHAT HAS IT ACTUALLY DONE?

Kent Housing Group ‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’ Kent Homechoice, the Kent Choice-Based Lettings Service, the largest of its kind in the UK, which has helped to improve Kent residents’ access to and choice in social housing. The Kent Homechoice website receives an average of K unique visitors each month, looking for social housing. Kent Homechoice has developed the website to act as a portal for other housing and advice services offered by KHG partners such as Porchlight and HomeBuy.

Kent Housing Group ‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’ Delivering New Affordable Homes The Kent and Medway SHMA showed there was less social rented accommodation within Kent in 2009 than in Significant numbers of new affordable homes were delivered in and as KHG members took advantage of additional resources made available by Government. The total of social rented homes is now larger than in 1997, with 2,400 and 2,750 affordable homes delivered in Kent in and respectively, up from a peak of 1,700 in KHG members have worked with HCA to maximise delivery through the Affordable Rent Framework, which is expected to deliver in excess of 4000 new affordable homes in Kent, a significant proportion of the South East allocation. The coherent, intelligent, pragmatic and solution focussed approach of KHG members makes Kent a more attractive place to deliver new homes in.

Kent Housing Group ‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’ No Use Empty campaign, a partnership developed between Kent County Council and the Districts and Boroughs which helps to bring empty properties across the County back into use with: £5.5 M Loans Approved, £11.2M Leverage from Public/Private Sector, £16.7M Total Investment, £1M original loans repaid and 2,031 Empty Properties returned back into use.

Strong relationships between Local Authorities have also led to the development of 2 complex cross-County PFI schemes embracing 12 Local Authority partners worth around £143m, which will deliver around 560 homes for vulnerable people in Kent. The Kent County Council PFI team, which led the bid said: “The role of the KHG was key to overcoming the obstacles inherent in complex partnerships”. Kent Housing Group ‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’

LEADERSHIP FORUM HOUSING STRATEGY KENTKENT KDG HCA LA NLA LA HA KENT HOUSING GROUP Kent Housing Group ‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’