Councils with ALMOs Group - annual report to LGA Board 2023

Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board

Contact details

Members

  • Barnet LB
  • Doncaster MBC
  • South Tyneside MBC
  • Barnsley MBC
  • Lewisham LB
  • Stockport MBC
  • Blackpool DC
  • Newcastle CC
  • Sutton LB Bury MBC
  • NE Derbyshire DC
  • Tower Hamlets LB
  • Cheltenham BC
  • Shropshire Council
  • West Northamptonshire Council Colchester CC
  • Solihull MBC
  • Wolverhampton CC
  • Cornwall Council
  • Somerset Council (formerly Sedgemoor DC)
  • Derby CC
  • Southend on Sea CC

Note: Two authorities have signalled their intention to wind up the ALMOs and bring management back ‘in house’ during 2023 (Lewisham LB and Tower Hamlets LB).

Aim

CWAG is the representative body of stock owning authorities where housing is managed via an Arm’s Length Management Organisation (ALMO).

As a Special Interest Group, CWAG is keen to work with the LGA to inform and influence policy activity on housing, so it reflects the needs and concerns of Councils with ALMOs and ensures the best outcome for tenants / leaseholders.

CWAG is also a forum for member local authorities, providing mutual support, networking, and opportunities to develop and share best practice.

Key activities/outcomes of work undertaken

Policy level engagement

During the past year, CWAG has continued to work closely with the LGA, along with ARCH and NFA, to develop a shared approach on key issues facing the council housing sector. As a group we meet regularly to discuss and co-ordinate sector responses on key areas of developing policy. During the past year this has included the 2023 rent settlement, fire and building safety and changes to social housing regulation. CWAG is also represented on DLUHC and RSH sector wide groups.

Connecting CWAG members and sharing good practice

A regular news update is provided for CWAG members covering housing related policy news, briefing material, examples of good practice and information on new publications and government releases.

A new CWAG website was introduced during the year significantly updating and improving the Group’s online offer.

A Client Officer Group has been established enable wider discussion and information sharing as councils prepare for the introduction of enhanced consumer regulation.

The policy officer acts as a contact point for advice as well as helping to match up requests for support with members who can help.

Meetings and events

Over the past 12 months, the group has continued to arrange an online programme of member meetings and events covering housing policy and operational issues with contributions from both sector experts and from CWAG members. The meetings programme has included the following topics and themes:

  • Complaints handling with a particular focus on damp and mould.
  • Dealing with disrepair claims
  • Tenant Satisfaction Measures – consultation outcomes and implementation issues
  • Social Housing Rents Consultation
  • Finance and Business Planning workshop

CWAG has also linked up with partners in the sector to offer access to joint events and webinars, for example:

  • Fire and Building Safety webinar (joint event with the NFA and ARCH)
  • Decarbonisation webinar (joint event with the NFA and ARCH)

Looking forward

In the coming year, we expect a key focus will be the implementation arrangements for changes to Social Housing Regulation, including a series of consultations. The debate around viability of HRA Business Plans is also a priority for our sector which is currently facing multiple expenditure pressures within the existing stock, including energy efficiency and decarbonisation targets, new building safety regulations and the need to address stock condition issues and a new Decent Homes standard.

CWAG will continue to work with members to reflect their views and concerns and share information and good practice between authorities. We will of course respond to new issues and challenges as they arise.