Councils with ALMOs Group - annual report to LGA Board 2024

• Lead Officer: Anna Milner (CWAG Chair)
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: Housing Strategy Team, South Tyneside Council, Tyne & Wear, NE33 2RL
• Telephone: 0191 424 7951
• Website: Councils with ALMOs Group

• Barnet LB
• Barnsley MBC
• Blackpool Council
• Cheltenham BC
• Colchester CC
• Cornwall Council
• Derby CC
• Doncaster MBC
• Newcastle CC
• NE Derbyshire DC
• Shropshire Council
• Solihull MBC
• Somerset CC
• Southend on Sea CC
• South Tyneside MBC
• Stockport MBC
• Sutton LB
• West Northamptonshire Council
• Wolverhampton CC

CWAG is the representative body of stock owning councils where housing is managed via an Arm’s Length Management Organisation (ALMO). The Group acts as a forum for member local authorities, providing mutual support, networking, and opportunities to discuss and share good practice.

CWAG aims to provide an effective link between member authorities, government departments and others with a national policy and operational remit affecting councils with ALMOs. The Group 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.

The Group is also working to develop positive partnerships with ALMOs, the National Federation of ALMOs (NFA), the Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH) and others to ensure best outcome for tenants / leaseholders.

The work that CWAG does to promote collaboration, joint working and shared learning within our sector aims to support councils to deliver improved outcomes for tenants and local communities which is in line with sector led improvement objectives in the LGA business plan.

Also, the theme ‘delivering a sustainable financial future’ is a key CWAG priority. Council Housing Revenue Accounts (HRAs) are increasingly under pressure following years of government-imposed rent restrictions in conjunction with significant building cost inflation and other financial pressures including building safety, the need to regenerate older homes, achieving net zero and the impact of new regulation. Given these financial pressures CWAG is actively working with the LGA and others to secure a longer term sustainable rental settlement for our sector.

Housing policy

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. 

CWAG also continues to be represented on the DLUHC Local Authority Housing Strategic Advisory Group and the RSH Local Government Representative Panel.

The Social Housing (Regulation) Act has been a major driver of policy activity in the past year with a series of consultations around implementation arrangements. CWAG has provided responses on behalf of the group including on Awaab’s Law, directions to the Regulator of Social Housing on tenants’ rights and complaints and the Competence and Conduct Standard for social housing.

CWAG also took part in a survey of council landlords linked to the ‘Better Social Housing Review’. This aimed to identify how local authorities are currently gathering and using data about their properties, with the aim of identifying baselines, identifying good practice and targeting resources for improvement.

Supporting CWAG members

CWAG continues to provide information and support to members including opportunities for networking with other councils with ALMOs who face similar issues. 

The group operates a dedicated website https://councilswithalmos.co.uk/. Monthly newsletters aim to keep members up to date with important policy developments, and provide briefings, relevant housing news and information. 

Direct support is available via the policy officer, including matching requests for assistance with members who can help.

The group also offers a regular programme of meetings and events. In the past year the programme included the following:

• 2 Finance and Business Planning Workshops facilitated by Steve Partridge (Savills).
• TPAS workshop – facilitated by Caritas Charles
• Advice on Preparing for Consumer Regulation – Lydia Dlaboha (HQN) 
• Overview of the Competence and Conduct Standard – Charlotte Hilliard (DLUHC)
• Learning from the Inspection Pilot – Lucy Heath (Shropshire Council)
• TSMs: first results / emerging issues -Jonathan Cox (Housemark)

Looking ahead

As a group we are conscious that our membership is reducing as the number of ALMOs has continued to fall. However, the type of support offered by CWAG remains relevant as the sector continues to change and adapt to new challenges. CWAG is currently part of discussions within the sector considering different options for delivering sector led improvement, promoting good practice and achieving a strong coherent voice on policy matters.