Chief Executive's Log for January 2011

Published: 22 February 2011 | Author: Shelagh Grant

Dear All,

January - A New Year - and a new web site - at least that is how it seems to us when we launched the first stage of our upgraded web site at the beginning of the month. Already we have seen usage increase considerably and it is a major aid in getting information and updates to members quickly. Part of the system is a much enhanced on - line booking system which we have been trialling for all events in January and it has worked without a glitch! So fingers crossed for no problems booking on line for the National Conference 7th April. Booking are open so please see the website here for details.

For our first event of 2011 we were the guests of East Midlands Housing Group for our monthly Regional Workshop, at Coalville, Leicestershire on 12th January and my thanks to Chan Kataria and Jim Patman for hosting the day. The workshop gave us an insight into the local markets and a central point of discussion was the new 4 year Affordable Rent programme which is to be part funded from rents on re-let properties (up to 80% of market rents) and how this will work out locally. The full write up from the day is on the web site here. We hold these workshops all round the country on a monthly basis.

Our 4 working groups held their final meetings in advance of their final report which will be launched at our National Conference:

• Do-it-yourself Planning - Chaired by Stephen Hill, Director, C20 futureplanners
• At the Heart is Housing - Chaired by John Cross, Chief Executive, bpha
• Affordability Later in Life - Co-Chaired by Bob Walder, Chief Executive, Longhurst Group and Roger Battersby, Managing Director, PRP
• Routes to Community Level Retrofit - Chaired by Alan Soper, Ian Williams

"The Practical Implications of Localism" was the topic of the first Skills Summit in 2011 held on 19th January. Skills Summits are in depth examinations of current practice issues led by top specialists from within our membership to give both information and interpretation. Andy von Bradsky, Chair, PRP Architects explained the governance and political dimensions of the Bill followed by Julian Goodban, PRP , on the detail of the planning legislation. Stephen Hill, Director C20 futureplanners, and Chair of The Housing Forum’s Working Group entitled “Do-It-Yourself Planning” explained the possibilities of co-housing and a range of initiatives to help with housing supply. Presentations from the day and a round up of the questions asked can be found here.

We do know that travelling to London for a day seminar is not convenient or possible for everyone so we are now putting all the presentations on the web site and also repeating the topical questions and answers given at the summit so members can keep up. This service will be restricted to members only from April 2011.

The Housing Forum Board met for its quarterly meeting on 20th January and adopted our new manifesto "Campaigning for More Homes and for Better Homes".

During December 2010, many of you helped by responding to our membership survey on benefits of The Housing Forum - the quality of our events and our original approach to housing issues are high priorities - many of you also wanted more information and communications and we are working on that largely through web site development.

Three new Demonstration Projects also went live in January 2011. You can read about them by clicking on the links below:

• Arlington House, Camden
• Future Fit Project
• 100 Princedale Road

Shelagh Grant

Chief Executive of The Housing Forum