ALG Housing Directors
Election of Chair and Vice-Chair and Item no: 1
Review of Directors’ Sub Groups
Report by:
Genevieve Macklin
Date:
7 July 2006
Contact Officer
Genevieve Macklin
Telephone:
020 7934 9827
Job title:
Email:
Director of Housing Policy
[email protected]
Summary:
Elections are required to the posts listed below. This report also
recommends some revisions to the current sub group arrangements.
Recommendations
Directors are asked to:
1. Elect to the following positions:
Directors Group
 Chair: Mike Davis is the current Chair and is happy to continue.
 Vice-Chair: Martin Cheeseman is the current Vice-Chair and is happy
to continue
Directors Sub Groups
 Homeless Working Group: Keith Broxup is the current Chair and is
happy to continue
 Equalities & BME Sub Group: Martin Cheeseman is the current
Chair.
Note: Alternative nominations can be made for all the above positions at
the Directors meeting. In the event that an alternative nomination is made
a vote will be taken.
2. Endorse
 the membership of the Directors’ Steering Group - Chair and Vice
Chair of the Directors Group, Chairs of Directors’ Sub Groups
(Homelessness and BME) and Lead Directors for the Sub Regions.
 the proposals to reduce the current number of permanent Directors
Sub Groups from four to two and disband the Directors’ Decent
Homes/ALMO sub group and the Finance sub group.
 the proposal to establish ad hoc time limited sub groups for particular
issues e.g. CSR2007, Purpose of Social Housing, Strategic Housing Role
etc
3. Approve the current membership of various ALG Groups and
representation at meetings with external bodies (para 3.1)
4. Note the current structure at Appendix 1 and proposed structure at
Appendix 2.
1
1.1
Current Position
The current structure is set out in the chart at Appendix 1.
1.2
There are currently four main sub-groups – Homeless Working Group, Equalities &
BME, Housing Finance and Decent Homes/ALMOs & Regeneration
1.3
Other groups which tend to focus on more operational issues include
Service Delivery




Repairs Officers (London Housing)
Housing Benefit Services Managers Group (run jointly with ALG)
Leasehold Management Officers Forum (run jointly with ALG)
Affordable Housing & Planning Group (run jointly with ALG)
Finance
 Housing Strategy and Investment Forum (London Housing)
Registered Social Landlords and Private Sector

Private Sector Forum (London Housing)
1.4
The Housing Directors Group is held every 2 months. And Housing Directors Steering
Group, every 2 months when appropriate (in alternate months to full directors)
2
2.1
Proposed Structure
It is proposed that a new structure is developed to reflect the Directors’ work programme
and priorities. The new structure proposes two Directors’ sub groups instead of four –
Homelessness and Equalities/BME. These two sub groups have continued to meet
regularly and the Government’s focus on social inclusion, homelessness and the target
to reduce the use of temporary accommodation warrants the continuance of these sub
groups. The proposed new structure is illustrated in Appendix 2.
2.2
It is also proposed that two of the existing main sub-groups be disbanded (Housing
Finance and Decent Homes/ALMOs & Regeneration). Both groups have not met on a
regular basis for 18 months and the Chairs have moved on, in addition many of the
substantive issues covered by these groups will be picked up by the new focus groups.
2.3
A further proposal is that time limited focus groups are created as and when necessary
to pick up specific Housing Directors priorities such as CSR2007, the Future of Social
Housing and the Strategic Role of Housing.
2.4
Membership and Remit of the Housing Directors’ Steering Group:
Membership

to include Chair and Vice-Chair of Directors’ Group, Chairs of Directors’ Sub
Groups (Homelessness & Equalities/BME), the five sub regional lead Directors.
Remit to include

London Housing Strategy issues

Sub-regional working (on the basis that there are lead directors represented on
the group from each of the sub-regions)

GLA/Housing Corporation/LHF issues, picking up work with RSLs
3
3.1
Representation at Meetings with External Bodies
The list of meetings with external bodies and recommended borough representation is
as follows:
 London Housing Board (and its replacement) – Chair of Directors Group
 Housing Forum for London – five sub regional co-ordinators
 Tri-Lateral Meetings (HC, LHF, ALG) – Lead Directors for the sub regions or sub
regional co-ordinators
 CBL&M Steering Group – Chair of Directors, Lead Directors for the sub regions or
sub regional co-ordinators
 Adhoc DCLG, DWP,GLA meetings, the Chair of Directors’ Group and other
Directors as appropriate subject to availability.
Appendix 1
HDG Steering Group
Chair: Mike Davis (Croydon)
Deputy Chair: Martin Cheeseman
(Brent)
Frequency:
Membership:
Remit:
Housing Directors Group
Chair: Mike Davis (Croydon)
Deputy Chair: Martin Cheeseman (Brent)
Bi-monthly
Directors Group & Sub Group
Chairs, Sub Regional Lead Directors
Policy/operational work
Homelessness
Working Group
Chair: Keith Broxup
(Southwark)
Frequency:
Membership:
Remit:
Bi-monthly
All borough representatives
+ GLA/ODPM
Policy + operational issues
Frequency:
Membership:
Remit:
Equalities & BME Group
Chair: Martin Cheeseman
(Brent)
Frequency:
Membership:
Remit:
Bi-monthly
8 Directors
Development of BME
strategies + build
links with relevant
organisations
Bi-monthly
All Directors
Strategic policy + specific
operational work
Housing Finance
Advisory Group
Chair: Andy Jennings
(Islington)
Frequency:
Membership:
Remit:
Decent Homes,
ALMOs &
Regeneration
Chair – Bernadette O’
Shea (Hounslow)
5 times a year
15 borough representatives
All policy/operational
funding issues
HDG Steering Group
Chair: Mike Davis (Croydon)
Deputy Chair: Martin Cheeseman
(Brent)
Frequency:
Membership:
Remit:
Bi-monthly
Group & Sub Group Chairs, Sub
Regional Lead Directors
Policy/operational work
Homelessness Working
Group
Chair: Keith Broxup
(Southwark)
Frequency:
Membership:
Remit:
Bi-monthly
All borough representatives
+ GLA/ODPM
Policy + operational issues
Housing Directors Group
Chair: Mike Davis (Croydon)
Deputy Chair: Martin Cheeseman (Brent)
Frequency:
Membership:
Remit:
Time limited focus groups
Bi-monthly
All Directors
Strategic policy + specific
operational work
Equalities & BME Group
Chair: Martin Cheeseman
(Brent)
Frequency:
Membership:
Remit:
Bi-monthly
8 Directors
Development of BME
strategies + build
links with relevant
organisations