Temporary Accommodation Is Where ‘Levelling Up’ Falls Down

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has 16 children “stuck” in had temporary accommodation in his constituency – 483 fewer than the London borough of Newham. That difference, the Commons heard, was where ‘levelling up’ fell down. The comparison was drawn by Labour’s Lyn Brown – who has part of Newham in her West Ham constituency. Brown asked Jenrick how it was fair to prioritise places such as Newark over places such as Newham. “Overall the number of children stuck in temporary accommodation in Newark is 16, 483 times lower than the figure in Newham,” she said. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/commons-told-temporary-accommodation-is-where-levelling-up-falls-down/

Midlands Council Had 622 Gas Certificates Outstanding

A council in the Midlands had 622 gas safety certificates out of date for a short period this summer, council papers have revealed. Newark and Sherwood District Council said the issues came to its attention in July and that all its homes were checked and serviced by 15 August. The council manages its 5,400 council homes through an ALMO, Newark and Sherwood Homes (NS Homes), but is already set to wind the company up and bring its housing services in-house. A report seen by the Conservative council’s Homes & Communities Committee revealed there have been two instances of gas servicing failures this year. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/midlands-council-had-622-gas-certificates-outstanding-63552?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Councils ‘Challenging’ Ministers After Exclusion From £1bn HRA Headroom Deal

Councils which worked with government to develop new funding flexibility for new homes have hit out at ministers after being excluded from bidding. Two councils that worked with government officials for more than a year to develop plans to allow councils to increase their borrowing capacity have said they were “disappointed” to discover they would not be allowed to bid for the fund. The government revealed last week that only councils where private rents are £50 more than social rents would be allowed to bid. This saw Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent, and Newark and Sherwood councils excluded. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:WJOJgVqQtzYJ:https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/councils-challenging-ministers-after-exclusion-from-1bn-hra-headroom-deal-57078+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&safe=vss

Council Signs 30-Year Agreement with ALMO

Newark and Sherwood District Council has extended its agreement with its ALMO for another 30 years. Newark and Sherwood Homes, which was formed in 2004, has worked closely with the council over the past six months to reach an agreement which would bring cost efficiencies through careful planning and shared resources, whilst maximising the investment which can be made on behalf of local tenants. The 30-year term means that the ALMO can make long-term plans to improve its homes and communities said its chair Ginette Hughes.  Read more on the Housing Excellence website.