ALG Housing Directors
HEMS
Item
no:
Job title:
6
Report by:
Nick Day
Date:
21 January 2005
Contact
Officer:
Beatrice Maunder
Telephone:
020 7934 9718
Summary:
The Housing Employment and Mobility Service (HEMS)
consultation on the new service closed on 16th
November 2004. ALG submitted a formal response on
behalf of the Boroughs. At the Housing Steering
Group of 16 November 2004 Members agreed to ensure
ALG was provided with examples of their concerns. To
date no responses have been received. ALG recently
sent letters to ODPM and the Housing Minister
supporting wider mobility but stressing the
importance of LAWN moves from high to low demand
areas, and the need for financial incentives to
encourage recipient landlords. Borough input is
sought regarding future lines of action ALG should
pursue with ODPM.
Email:
Housing Policy Manager
[email protected]
Recommendations
:
Directors are asked to:
1. Note that due to Borough concerns Members had
requested ALG ask ODPM for more work to be
carried out on HEMS before the launch of its new
service.
2. Note ALG request to ODPM for a meeting of the
HEMS reference Group.
3. Note that ALG has sent letters to the Housing
Minister and ODPM raising concerns about HEMS
and advocating wider mobility issues such as the
possible public expenditure savings through LAWN
moves, and making the case for ODPM to provide
funding for incentives to recipient landlords.
4. Note that no further information has emerged
from boroughs.
5. Comment on further action ALG should take.
1
Introduction
1.1
This report updates Directors on ALG actions following the submission of the response to the
Housing and Employment Mobility Service (HEMS) consultation, which closed on 16 November
2004. It outlines ALG’s subsequent communications with ODPM in an attempt to influence the
consultation outcome and requests suggestions from Directors about further actions given the
lack of response from Boroughs.
1.2
Boroughs previously highlighted to ALG issues around HEMS
which informed ALG’s response to the HEMS consultation.
The consultation response focused on the lack of identified
funding for the Homes Mobility Scheme; the absence of
detail on how the contractor will deliver and support the
new LAWN service; the need to continually develop LAWN
services, and to provide specialist staff able to liase
with landlords; the need to offer a personal call centre service for all customers,
to provide quality sign posting and offer more practical advice to customers unable to access webdriven services and the need for funding to incentivise LAWN moves considered
necessary not only for the person moving but also for
recipient authorities to encourage moves from high to low
demand areas.
2 ALG Letters to ODPM regarding HEMS
2
2.1
Shortly after the close of the consultation ALG requested ODPM convene a meeting of a HEMS
Reference Group, to influence the consultation outcome by raising specific concerns about how the
new service will be delivered. The Reference Group is chaired by ODPM and reports to the HEMS
Project Board. To date this group has only met once. ODPM have said a meeting will be arranged
early in 2005.
2.2
ALG has previously expressed concerns to ODPM about the HEMS
contract. We encouraged ODPM to ensure the contractor does not neglect the
LAWN element of HEMS.
2.3
ALG contacted ODPM again in December 2004 to reiterate the
ALG position and concerns in letters to ODPM officials and
Ministers.
2.4
The key points included:



2.5
Boroughs support combining mobility services within HEMS
and ALG believe the HEMS service is essential to
informing the choice and mobility agenda, so are keen to
ensure that there is cooperation and synchronisation
between HEMS, London CBL schemes, sub regional schemes
and the developing pan London approach to CBL and
mobility.
Borough concerns that HEMS is not placing sufficient
emphasis on promoting mobility from high to low demand
areas. Boroughs believe the new service should set out
details of how HEMS will develop, and support the LAWN
service to maximise moves from high to low demand areas
and provide specialist staff able to fulfil the role of
liasing with landlords.
ALG proposals, to give receiving landlords financial
incentives to encourage them to accept movers from high
demand areas.
A meeting has been requested between Genevieve Macklin and Dawn Eastmead of ODPM to
discuss the links between the HEMS service and the wider mobility agenda for London before the
planned launch in the New Year.
3 Conclusion
3.1
Despite promises from members and officers to date no
Boroughs have forwarded comments to ALG regarding HEMS.
the light of forthcoming meetings with ODPM to discuss
HEMS, and the rapidly advancing agenda on Choice and
Mobility, input is sought from Directors to further ALG
activity regarding HEMS.
In
4 Equalities Implications
4.1
Black and Minority Ethnic Households are over-represented
among homeless households and those on housing registers.
Increased opportunities to move for those in temporary
3
accommodation or in housing need are therefore likely to
particularly benefit these groups.
4