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Engagement with Councillors through LACORS Member Champions Scheme

About LACORS. Regulatory arm of local government.Established in 1978.Expanded

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Engagement with Councillors through LACORS Member Champions Scheme

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    1. Engagement with Councillors through LACORS’ Member Champions’ Scheme Ruth Hammond-Laing Policy Officer, Private Sector Housing, LACORS 29 June 2007 housing@lacors.gov.uk

    2. About LACORS Regulatory arm of local government. Established in 1978. Expanded…now includes private sector housing. Commissioned by CLG to support councils on Parts 1 – 4 & 7 Housing Act 2004. Broadened last October to include Part 6.

    3. Champions for Regulatory Services Low profile – Cinderella services. Tributaries not chains: A policy paper by the Tavistock Institute “Contested area of public policy….yet one on which businesses, individuals, communities depend for…health, equity, vitality and financial viability”. “Changes in society between now and 2015 – greater diversity, difference within and between communities”. “Regulation and licensing will be a major function of local governance”. 1. 1.

    4. LACORS & the Housing Act 2004 Composition of team. Visits to local authorities, GOs, partners. Establishment of stakeholder group and Policy Forum. Good practice guide on tackling unlicensed HMOs. National HMO Survey on implementing HMO licensing. Regional seminars on Tenancy Deposit Protection. April 2007 conference on Housing Act – a year on. Migrant Workers. Selective Licensing. Fire Safety Protocol.

    5. Raising Awareness Work programme included targeting councillors. Support from chairman to raise profile. February 2007 Policy Review Group Seminar. Launch of Councillor Handbook. Website and specialist emails.

    6. Wider Strategic Housing Context Why is PSH so poorly resourced? Housing Inspectorate “Key Lines of Enquiry” (KLOE) number 9, Private Sector Housing. Excellence is: “…a comprehensive PSH strategy which addresses all relevant issues including stock condition, housing supply and need, adaptations for disabled people, energy efficiency, target hardening, staying put schemes, area based renewal and regeneration, caravan sites, temporary accommodation, procurement, agenda 21, regulation activity, etc.”

    7. The bigger picture Recent reviews have reminded us that PSH has role to play. The 2006 Local Government White Paper: leadership and place shaping. Opportunities for PSH – Community Call to Action, enhanced Scrutiny & Overview role, community cohesion, linking PSH to wider housing and sustainable community strategies. Local Area Agreements “..aim to deliver genuinely sustainable communities through better outcomes for local people.” Brighton & Hove LSP case study. Working with the IDeA.

    8. What can councillors do about Private Sector Housing? Educate other councillors and senior officers. Ensure PSH is woven into the council plans and strategies. Promote the well-being power. Make more resources available. Seek the views of private landlords and their tenants.

    9. How can Heads of Service help? Keep councillors informed about private sector housing issues. Encourage councillors to champion private sector housing and get involved in peer reviews. Seek information on leadership academy training – available through IDeA. Share good practice by talking to neighbouring councils – or organisations like DASH.

    10. LACORS Member Champions Programme Introduced in 2005 - aims and objectives. Corporate progress so far. Future Plans. Councillor handbooks – health & safety, environmental protection, private sector housing. Chairman’s Update. LACORS website – visit www.lacors.gov.uk.

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