Special Interest Group annual report to LGA Board
Contact information
- Lead Member: Southend on Sea City Council (Administrative Authority)
- Lead Officer: Geoff Beales (CWAG Chair)
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: N/A
- Telephone: N/A
- Website: https://www.councilswithalmos.co.uk
Membership
CWAG currently has 15 members:
- Barnet LB
- Barnsley MBC
- Blackpool Council
- Colchester CC
- Cornwall Council
- Derby CC
- Doncaster MBC
- NE Derbyshire DC
- Shropshire Council
- Solihull Council
- Southend-on-Sea CC
- Stockport MBC
- Sutton LB
- West Northamptonshire Council
- Wolverhampton CC
Aims
CWAG is the membership body for 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 work with the LGA and others including the National Federation of ALMOs (NFA), the Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH) to inform and influence policy on housing so it reflects the needs and concerns of Councils with ALMOs and delivers the best outcomes for tenants and leaseholders.
Priorities
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.
CWAG joined up with the LGA, NFA, ARCH and CIH, to make the case for a longer-term sustainable financial settlement to enable councils to invest in the improvement of their existing homes whilst also delivering much needed new council housing. In the past year this has involved joint research to support the case for a longer-term rental settlement.
CWAG is also part of the steering group to establish an Association of Directors of Housing Group (ADoH) which aims to deliver more effective and joined up representation for the council housing sector. As a group we are working to deliver best results and ensure the new arrangements include structures for information and good practice sharing at all levels within council housing management and delivery.
Key activities / outcomes of work undertaken
Housing Policy
In the past year there has been an increased focus on joint working with sector partners to highlight HRA viability and financial problems affecting the sector. CWAG has worked closely with the LGA, ARCH and NFA, to co-ordinate policy responses and achieve greater impact. Recent examples include jointly funded research by Savills setting out the importance of a longer-term rental settlement for council housing; a sector-wide letter to the Deputy Prime Minister on rent policy; joint submissions to the Autumn Budget and CSR and joint consultation responses on the future rent settlement and future of the Right to Buy.
CWAG also continues to be represented on the MHCLG Local Authority Housing Strategic Advisory Group and the RSH Local Government Representative Panel as well as the RSH Fees and Charges Representative Panel.
There has also been a focus on regulation with the first Inspections of council housing departments including councils with ALMOs taking place under the new regulatory arrangements. Ensuring opportunities to share good practice and practical feedback from inspections is a priority.
Supporting CWAG Members
Direct support is available via the policy officer, including matching requests for assistance with members who can help.
The group also arranges a programme of meetings covering topics of interest to members. In the past year the programme included the following:
- Finance and Business Planning Workshops facilitated by Steve Partridge (Savills) covering key concerns around HRA viability and future rent policy.
- Proposals for Delivering Sector Led Improvement in Council Housing -
Eamon McGoldrick (NFA)
- Analysis of Tenant Satisfaction Measures 2023/24 – Jonathan Cox (Housemark)
Research
CWAG jointly funded a research survey (along with the LGA, ARCH and the LGA) into the Claims Harvesting linked to the Right to Repair. The survey recommendations have gained support from the Housing Ombudsman and are now being considered by MHCLG and the MOJ.
Administrative Authority Changes
During the year the management arrangements for the group changed with the transfer of the Administrative Authority from Manchester City Council to Southend City Council.
Association of Directors of Housing (ADoH)
CWAG is keen to support plans to establish the Association of Directors of Housing (ADoH) to deliver more effective and joined up representation for the council housing sector. Once the Group has been established CWAG will work with members to bring CWAG fully into alignment with the new arrangements.