Government Urged To Reverse New Homes Bonus Reductions

The Local Government Association (LGA) wants New Homes Bonus (NHB) reductions reversed to ease the squeeze on cash-strapped councils facing further savings. The LGA is calling on government to reverse unexpected reductions in NHB payments to councils in 2017/18 and find “genuinely new” money to properly fund social care. A provisional Local Government Finance Settlement, published in December, failed to provide any additional new government funding for councils in 2017/18. Instead, the government brought forward already announced council tax raising powers for social care authorities and redistributed £241m in NHB payments through a new Adult Social Care Services Support Grant. Read more on 24housing.

New Homes Bonus ‘Top-Sliced’ To Fund Adult Social Care

Savings from reforms to the New Homes Bonus can be retained by councils to fund adult social care, parliament has heard. The announcement effectively means the government can top slice the New Homes Bonus to fund care for the elderly and vulnerable. This confirmation has raised questions as to how local authorities will work to help meet the government’s radical home building targets. Read more on 24housing.

Housing and Social Care To Be Forced To Co-Operate

Local authorities are to be required by law to ensure their housing and social care departments work together effectively to meet the needs of vulnerable people.  The draft Care and Support Bill includes a clause stating that authorities must ‘make arrangement for ensuring co-operation’ between various groups, including housing officers, adult social care, and directors of children’s services.  The draft bill was published alongside the government’s care and support white paper. This includes a section on housing that promises £200 million of capital funding over five years from 2013/14 to develop 6,000 homes for older and disabled people.  Read more on Inside Housing.

ALMO Takes On Extra Council Services

A North London ALMO is set to become the first in the country to take on additional council services following a landmark agreement with Barnet Council, which will also see it take on additional housing services. Barnet Homes will take responsibility for housing needs and resources services from 1 April 2012 and will also set up a new subsidiary to take on adult social care services from the council. Under the agreement, Barnet Homes will become responsible for advising customers on housing issues and assessing whether those who have, or about to, become homeless are eligible for housing in the private or social housing sector. They will also become responsible for maintaining the supply of these properties and for managing temporary accommodation. The switch of responsibility means that people will deal with one organisation only from the point of becoming homeless through to being housed. It will also cut costs by reducing duplication of tasks between Barnet Council and Barnet Homes. Read more on the Barnet Homes website.