ALG Housing Directors
CBL and Mobility
Item no: 5
Report by:
Nick Day
Date:
27 January 2006
Contact Officer:
Anastasia Mulenga
Telephone:
020 7934 9943
Summary:
Recommendations:
Job title:
Email:
Head of Housing Strategy and Sub-Regions
Anastasia.Mulenga @alg.gov.uk
“Capital Moves”, the London bid to the ODPM CBL Strategy fund, was
submitted in October. ODPM announced that it would provide £75,000
(25% of the amount bid for, and 15% of the project total). At the CBL and
Mobility Steering Group on 12 January 2006, it was decided that partners
would match fund the ODPM bid and scale back the project accordingly. It
is now anticipated that the project will deliver the early stages of the
original bid. This will be in preparation for procurement and
implementation following a further submission to ODPM in the next bidding
round which will close in July or September 2006.
Directors are asked to:
Note that
1. ODPM will provide £75,000 to fund the early stages of the project
and are open to further London bids (paragraph 2.1)
2. another CBL bidding round is expected to be announced in March
2006, with a closing date between July and September 2006
(paragraph 3.2)
3. the CBL and Mobility Steering Group decided that partners should
match fund the ODPM resources, ie 25%. Boroughs would therefore
be asked for a contribution of £750 each rather than £3,000 at this
stage. The later stages of the bid, if supported by ODPM, are likely
to require further match funding (paragraph 3.1 and 3.2)
4. Comment on and endorse the proposal to take the project forward
but to make a further bid to ODPM for resources for
implementation(Section 3)
S:\HOUSING\Public\ALG Housing Directors\2005\September 05\Final\Item_3_Choice_and_Mobility.doc
1
1.1
INTRODUCTION
This report updates Directors on the submission of the bid to ODPM to expand opportunities for
Choice Based Lettings (CBL) and Mobility in London.
2
BACKGROUND
2.1
Directors received a report on 25 November regarding the progress of the bid to the ODPM CBL
Strategy. On 29 November ODPM announced that it would provide £75,000 for the London bid (25%
compared to £296,000 requested). The ODPM notification letter states that “ the funding is intended
to cover much of what is in the first phases of the bid, including developing and agreeing policies,
particularly for the pan-London mobility aspect of the scheme, and the key elements of an IT
solution, as well as an ICT procurement strategy and an implementation strategy.
We would welcome a further bid from the ALG to take forward a pan-London scheme if the initial
work that is being funded is successful.”
2.2
ALG contacted boroughs and other funding partners to establish their views following the ODPM
announcement. The CBL Steering Group were asked to comment on the following options:
1. Lobby ODPM to increase the proposed funding. London has submitted the only regional
bid.
2. Withdraw project and consider resubmitting in the next round of CBL&M funding when
CBL&M Steering Group has had time to consider how the project might be taken forward or
remodelled.
3. Scale back the project to reflect the reduced ODPM funding allocation and a possible
matched reduction in partner funding contributions. If the latter should happen the total
project funding would be £125,000; £75,000 from ODPM (60%) and £50,000 from partners.
4. Scale back the project to reflect the reduced ODPM funding allocation but no scaling back
in partner funding contributions. The total project funding would be £275,000.
2.3
Among London Boroughs, 11 responded. All supported a continuation of the project, though with
some support expressed for scaling back the project or clarifying what would be delivered with the
reduced funding.
3
CBL & M0BILITY STEERING GROUP 12 JANUARY 2006
3.1
The steering group decided that funders should match ODPM’s contribution of 25% of the original
bid. Boroughs will be asked to contribute £750 each for this stage, rather than £3,000. This means
that £125,000 will be available for the project once other contributions from ODPM, LHF and
Housing Corporation are taken into account. The Group decided that the funders group should draw
up a brief for consultants to carry forward the early stages of the project. Detail is still being worked
up, but in broad terms this will address
 Achieving consensus around the policies and protocols required to implement Capital Moves
 Outline procurement and implementation costs for the ICT system
 Developing a project plan for the second stage
3.2
The key areas identified in the original bid that will not be delivered at this stage are :
 Developing a detailed ICT specification
 ICT Procurement strategy
 ICT Procurement and Implementation
These will be the subject of a further submission to ODPM in the next bidding round. GOL informed
the CBL and Mobility Steering Group that this would be announced in March and would close
between July and September 2006. It should be recognised that this latter stage is likely to require
further match funding.
3.3
ALG is meeting with both ODPM and funding partners before the Housing Directors meeting, and will
update Directors on 27 January.
4
EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
4.1
CBL and Mobility has a potential range of implications for people from BME and minority
communities, as it could have a radical impact on which households successfully apply for social
housing. The GLA undertook an Equalities Impact Assessment on the 2005 London Housing Strategy
which included the targets on Choice and Mobility.
4.2
The proposals to expand CBL and Mobility across London include incorporation of the Accessible
Housing Register. This register of properties suitable for disabled people will enable them to
exercise informed choice.