Social Housing and life chances

Day 2 (Monday) of conference started at 8am at a housing fringe put on by Fabians. It was chaired by Gail Cartmail, assistant General Secretary of Unite. By co-incidence Gail spoke before me to conference on the Economy (more of that to follow).

The main speaker was Housing & Planning meeting Minister John Healey together with James Gregory (Fabians) and Tony Hawkhead (CEO Groundwork). The meeting was supposed to me under “Chatham House rules”. However the Minister announced with media present that in his experience there is no such thing as “off the record” so he was quite happy to be quoted. I'm not sure about the other speakers or guests?

His most significant comment was his clear put down of a suggestion that any new government would have to make massive cuts in the housing budget. He said that this would happen if the Tories came in but not under Labour. In fact capital spending will rise undeer Labour. Housing will have to fight hard to justify their funding but it is wrong to suggest that there is not a choice.

Some other interesting stuff that the Minister said was how the Tories now call public housing “barracks for the Poor” and how frustrating it can be deal with journalists who obviously never actually been on a Council Estate. The importance of creating real mixed communities of rich and poor living together, local decision making and accountability. Housing policy should not be separate from leisure or environment policies.

I asked a question regarding the total supply of housing. The government has done a lot of good things in housing and there are always better ways of doing things but there are 4 million on council waiting lists. As a housing officer I see overcrowded families and wonder how kids can do their homework when they have nowhere to work. Current plans will not address this. There were a number of thoughtful responses.

At the end of the fringe I “nobbled” John (as you do at these things) and he agreed to attend a future UNISON Labour Link Housing association branch event I am organising and speak on Housing.

Pay your rent on time – or else! (you’re roast dinner?)

Hat tip thingy to Skuds for this link. Rent collection is really important for all public housing organisations but Arena obviously lost the plot with this postcard which was sent out to some of its tenants.

These tenants have quite rightly complained about the post card and some even say they are being “intimidated” and “mafia” style threats.

Which I think is just a little OTT but I take their point.

It was good to see that the Director has “apologised unreservedly” (BBC).