News: July 2010

Ministers have promised to “hand the levers of power” to housing professionals while warning that money will be tight in delivering priorities identified by the government and the sector.

Announcing a new review of regulation at the Chartered Institute of Housing's annual conference, housing minister Grant Shapps said he was keen to place his trust in people with much greater experience and knowledge but added that everyone must recognise constraints on government spending.

The review will study the role of the Tenant Services Authority and the Homes and Communities Agency, both created less than two years ago. But Mr Shapps seemed to pre-empt its results by criticising the TSA and indicating that the HCA must refocus on local operations.

The HCA, said the minister, should become smaller and more strategic. “It will be an enabling or investment body,” he said. “It will be the people that you call to get things done.”

Challenged over how the government will ensure that sufficient new homes are built, the minister said plans to offer extra council tax to authorities that support planning proposals would make development popular among local communities.

The moratorium on stock transfers to housing associations will remain in place while ministers review the housing finance system in local government, the conference was told.

Shapps also praised some arm's length management organisations for doing “a fine job”, but said he had no fixed view over how social housing should be provided.

Money that is saved by cutting quangos would help support programmes such as housing market renewal. “It's not going to fall off a cliff or stop,” he said, while promising to be upfront with housing groups about the general economic outlook.

“The money has run out and everybody is going to have to take the pressure,” said Shapps.