Force Grenfell Witnesses To Give Evidence

The Local Government Association has said witnesses must be compelled to give evidence to the Grenfell inquiry. The chair of the Grenfell Tower inquiry has delayed the hearing for at least two weeks so that the Attorney General can decide whether evidence from witnesses should be used in future prosecutions. But Lord Porter, building safety spokesman for the Local Government Association, said: “All those involved in any way have a duty to fully participate in the inquiry, tell the unedited truth, answer for their actions and accept responsibility for their role in the deaths of at least 72 people and the ongoing trauma inflicted upon the survivors and the bereaved.” Read more on Housing Today.

https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/news/force-grenfell-witnesses-to-give-evidence-lga-peer-says/5104217.article

Partner With Housing Associations To Use Borrowing Freedoms, Says LGA Chair

The outgoing leader of the Local Government Association (LGA) has said councils should partner with housing associations to make the most of new borrowing freedoms to build more homes. Lord Gary Porter, who stepped down as chair of the LGA this week after serving his four-year term, told Inside Housing there “is a serious issue” about councils having enough internal capacity and experienced staff to develop at scale. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/partner-with-housing-associations-to-use-borrowing-freedoms-says-lga-chair-62133

Potential For £320bn Windfall From New Generation Of Social Housing

Councils could generate £320bn for the country’s economy over the next 50 years if they were able to build a “new generation” of high-quality council housing, the LGA says. Analysis examining four different future economic scenarios demonstrates how new social housing will deliver huge gains to tax payers. Even the worst-case scenario referenced by the LGA still results in a £10bn return. LGA chair Lord Porter said the findings offered the Chancellor the chance to go beyond lifting the borrowing cap and deliver “once-in-a-lifetime change” to benefit thousands across the country. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/potential-for-320bn-windfall-from-new-generation-of-social-housing/

‘Give Tenants Designs On New Social Housing’ Says LGA Chair

LGA chair Lord Porter says ‘self-build’ is the future for social housing, with future tenants having designs on the design of up to 100,000 new homes and building regulation the only criteria. Next week, the chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to confirm that from as soon as next month councils will no longer have to doff a borrowing cap to housebuilding. Porter wants to push for bolder – councils directly working with tenants on design rather than councils simply commissioning volume housebuilders. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/give-tenants-designs-on-new-social-housing/

Calls For Councils To Pursue Joint Ventures After Borrowing Cap Scrap

Councils have been urged to seek out joint ventures with local housing associations by LGA Chairman, Lord Porter. Issuing the call via Twitter, Lord Porter said: “Start your conversations with your best local members of National Housing Federation to see about doing JV deals to use the new headroom.” He added: “Also start talking to the Federation of Master Builders about contracts to build. We don’t have time to waste reinventing the wheel.” Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/calls-for-councils-to-pursue-joint-ventures-after-borrowing-cap-scrap/

May’s Housing Cash Pledge Is Not Enough

Councils have warned that a £2bn funding pot finally made available to them will not be enough to deliver the new generation of council homes promised by Theresa May. Their message comes as the first ever social housing green paper by a Conservative government is expected to be published this week. Local Government Association chair, Lord Porter, the Conservative leader of South Holland District Council, Lincolnshire, said he would not be able to build enough council homes to meet local demand because the government was only offering 166 councils extra borrowing capacity and additional funding for social housing. Read more on the Guardian website.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/21/may-2bn-council-housing-pledge-not-enough-council-leaders-warn

Government Should ‘Throw Weight Behind’ Council Housing Companies

The government should “throw its weight behind” council housing companies, the chair of the Local Government Association (LGA) has said. Lord Gary Porter was responding to a report from the Smith Institute which reveals a “quiet revolution” in council housebuilding, with around 150 councils setting up housing companies despite little government support. The report shows that increasing numbers of councils are directly funding their own housing companies without government grant to try and meet local housing need, mostly building homes for private rent and sale. Some are recycling the company’s profits to subsidise new affordable and social rented homes, as well as providing temporary accommodation and housing for older people. Read a summary of the report on the Smith Institute website.

Housing Bill Would Spell Loss Of 80,000 Council Houses

Town hall leaders have criticised the government’s drive to boost homeownership, warning that it would lead to the loss of 80,000 council houses in the next four years and add more than £200m a year to the housing benefit bill. Lord Porter, the leader of Conservative councillors across the country, said the planned sell-off of council houses would drive people into the more expensive private rented sector and reduce their chances of saving enough to put down a deposit on their own home. The Local Government Association (LGA), which Porter also chairs, forecast that on top of the 66,000 council houses expected to be sold to tenants by 2020, town halls would also be forced to sell at least 22,000 of their highest value council homes to fund the sale of housing association homes to tenants. Read more on the Guardian website.