Kent Housing Group
‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’
The Kent Housing Group
Post Conference Pack
Wednesday 29th September 2010
Ashford International Hotel
This event was sponsored by Golding Homes
KHG
…collaboration for the benefit of Kent and its people…
Kent Housing Group
‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’
Thank you
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for attending the first Kent Housing Group Conference, which I am sure you will
agree, has been a very successful and rewarding day.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Golding Homes for sponsoring the event, Denne Construction for sponsoring the
first Kent Housing Group (KHG) Excellence Awards; and to all those who have worked behind the scenes to ensure the conference
was a success.
Post Conference Information
Kent Housing Group has put together a post conference pack to provide delegates with an overview of the day, including key
points from each of the key note speeches, key points from the themed workshops, the aims that Kent Housing Group will take
forward and confirmation of successful nominations for the first Excellence and Innovation Awards.
Evaluation Request
Kent Housing Group would be pleased to receive a completed evaluation sheet about your whole conference experience. This can
be completed electronically or by post using the following contact information:
Rebecca.smith@ashford.gov.uk
Jill.pells@shepway.gov.uk
Rebecca Smith, Kent Housing Group, c/o Housing Services, Civic Centre, Tannery Lane, Ashford, Kent. TN23 1PL
Bob Porter, Kent Housing Group Chairman
KHG
…collaboration for the benefit of Kent and its people…
Kent Housing Group
‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’
Keynote Speech –
Richard Hill, Corporate Director Housing, Growth & Affordability, Homes & Communities Agency
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Real achievements to celebrate; of 54,881 housing starts on site in the financial year ending March 2010 56% were in
London, the South East and South West
Six core elements of Local Investment Plans (LIP) including Economic Growth; Outputs and outcomes; Appraisal and
prioritisation; Housing Supply; Statutory Duties and Community Engagement
Challenges ahead will include responding to government priorities; delivery in a fragile and changing market; moving
forward on standards and sustainability; delivering better value with substantially less resources
The future role of the HCA – new housing supply; place making and regeneration and finally the use of existing stock
The impact of the “localism agenda” – partners becoming a driving force in housing outputs; recognition that “one size does
not fill all”
Recognition that Housing is a vital agenda item and central to the Kent economy
Preview of the Kent & Medway Housing Strategy (K&MHS)–
Brian Horton, Strategic Housing Advisor, Kent County Council
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KHG
The aims of the K&MHS are informed by a wide ranging dialogue and has ownership at Leaders level
There is a clear indication and opportunity to engage with Central Government about the key priorities for Kent
An opportunity to promote innovation within Kent, examples of good practice and innovative working in the strategy
Embracing the “localism agenda” to attract investment into Kent, to tackle and drive forward key aspirations
To use the four key components “LDF & Local Housing Strategies; LIP’s; Housing and Planning Futures and the K&MHS to
become a catalyst for investor confidence
…collaboration for the benefit of Kent and its people…
Kent Housing Group
‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’
Delivering Housing Numbers in an Era of Localism –
Richard Alderton, Chair of Kent Planning Officers’ Group
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Local politics will and must influence the next set of housing targets, but is there sufficient incentive to deliver the target?
Targets for housing delivery must be considered in a realistic context that goes beyond locally generated needs and is
robust
Genuine communication with the local community is crucial, the more people understand the happier they are, even if they
disagree with the outcome
Housing and Planning professionals need to embrace localism and the need to build new working partnerships and a wider,
strategic picture from the ‘bottom up’
A need for a greater understanding of the true cost of housing growth and the extent to which the private sector can sustain
costs of infrastructure and a demanding policy agenda in a weak market
Consideration of appropriate social and physical infrastructure, funded and delivered at the right time in the right place is
key to community cohesion
Delivering More with Less – Localism, Innovation & Ambition –
Sarah Whitney, Managing Director Government and Infrastructure, CB Richard Ellis
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KHG
The Change Equation – Dissatisfaction; Vision; First Concrete Steps; Resistance (DxVxF>R)
Infrastructure underpins the economy, the UK has the poorest track record of infrastructure investment
Expenditure on New Affordable Homes delivery does not meet existing housing need; many homes do not meet the decent
homes standard, the consequence of which will impact upon the occupiers emotional and physical well being
Localism is an agenda that can bring together the public and private housing sectors; disseminating power to the local
communities; agreeing a framework of minimum standards and agreed priorities
More pressure on land owners to reappraise land supply and consider avenues to release it with appropriate repayment
methods
…collaboration for the benefit of Kent and its people…
Kent Housing Group
‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’
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The impacts of new finance sources, including Tax Increment Financing (TIF); New Homes Bonus; Regional Growth Funding
and the role of Joint Ventures
*All four presentations are available to view and download on the Kent Housing Group website (www.kenthousinggroup.org.uk)
Workshop Feedback
Workshop 1 – Rural
(Tracey Kerly & Jennifer Shaw, ABC)
1.
Thriving rural communities are about people not facilities and services (a checklist culture is a hindrance to local needs
housing delivery)
2.
Communication is vital – whole communities need to be involved in their own futures not just a vocal minority.
3.
A consistent approach to local needs housing delivery countywide is needed from all professions and organisations involved
in the process.
Workshop 2 – Housing Need and Support Services
(Claire Martin, KCC & Lesley Clay, JPPB)
1.
Set up information sharing facility portal (KHG/JPPB/Kent Homechoice) so that organisations are not working in silo and
aware of good practice, not just cross boundary/agency but also internally within relevant services, especially housing
services.
2.
Roll out innovative practice across Kent and Medway, e.g. use of homeless prevention fund to sustain tenancies for short
periods, tenancy training for vulnerable group, (Medway), via KHG/JPPB
KHG
…collaboration for the benefit of Kent and its people…
Kent Housing Group
‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’
3.
Explore the opportunities for joint commissioning of supported accommodation by Kent and Medway SP and joint initiatives
such as small grants to provide basic furnishing packages for vulnerable people. The Commissioning Body is the decision
making body for Supporting People.
Workshop 3 – Managed Growth
(Brian McCutcheon, Medway Council & Chris Knowles, T&M BC)
1.
To explore the delivery possibilities presented by “hidden homes” opportunities across Kent, perhaps using a pilot group to
analyse details and realistic out-turns.
2.
Investigate the practical implementations of TIF and similar new funding mechanisms as brought forward by the
Government, to ensure continuation of housing delivery for partners
3.
To better understand how the emerging localism agenda can work alongside the increasing necessity for joint delivery
vehicles to maintain the economic viability of housing supply in Kent
Workshop 4 – Regeneration
(Jerry Freeman, CBRE & Russell Drury, Medway Council)
1.
Improving the role of the Private Rented Sector, including improving the image of the sector; better management models;
expansion of the sector alongside new controls/regulations; consideration of a reinvestment model for a public sector
facilitated scheme.
2.
Bringing empty properties back into use, including additional resources to expand upon existing schemes; consideration of
shared resource model to spread cost and share skills across districts; asking the question about treating empty homes
KHG
…collaboration for the benefit of Kent and its people…
Kent Housing Group
‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’
brought back into use as new homes and thereby receive New Homes Bonus award which is then reinvested into a specific
project team.
3.
Exploring new mechanisms that improve deliverability, including thoughts around why the public sector invests in an area
that the private sector could take up? The continuation of Homebuy Direct.
Workshop 5 – Quality and Energy Efficiency
(Carolyn McKenzie & Kathy Putnam, KCC & Matthew Gough, Medway Council)
1.
Private Sector housing should always be subject to clear minimum standards, such as Building for Life that would provide
guidance on the overall environment but not overly specifying details such as room size.
2.
Affordable housing should also be subject to clear minimum standards and additional standards such as room size as this
housing is built based on housing need. Points one and two should be incorporated within Planning Policy to ensure that
these factors can be taken into consideration during the early stages of the design process. This will also ensure land values
reflect the requirements for a site.
3.
Statutory agencies who are land owners should take a lead in the delivery of high quality and appropriate housing provision,
including specifications around tenure, type and enhanced design standards using a development or procurement brief prior
to disposal of land. It was accepted that it is not possible for all landowners to dispose of land at no cost.
Workshop 6 – Skills
(Sarah Whitney, CBRE & Deborah White, West Kent HA)
1.
KHG
KHG to undertake a skills audit across Kent and then develop a skills register to fully utilise skilled personnel to represent
organisations in a lead officer role, as in the shared service vehicle.
…collaboration for the benefit of Kent and its people…
Kent Housing Group
‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’
2.
KHG could commission a skills gap analysis to identify future skills needs, using the evidence to shape development/training
within organisations and communities to tackle the identified skills deficit and tackle worklessness.
3.
KHG should take a wider training role including the following; providing bursaries or sponsorship to support individuals
through training; recognition of talent we already have; building upon the KCC Recognising Talent Scheme; identifying
transferable skills; develop a mentoring role.
Kent Housing Group Innovation Fund Bids & Excellence Awards
Innovation Fund Successful Bids were awarded to the following projects:
 The Amateur Boxing Association for the Kent Boxing Development Project. Funding of £5,000 will enable the recruitment of
a Boxing Development Officer.
 The InLiving Mobile Phone Download Project managed by Dartford BC. Funding of £6,000 will be used to progress this
project in Dartford and Gravesham.
 The Pound4Pound Project managed by Orbit South. This project received the sum of £9,590 to continue benefiting
residents and landlords in multi-landlord estates with the provision of free money management and budgeting workshops.
 The Your Home Your Health Project managed by Thanet DC. A sum of £10,000 has been awarded to continue with the
multi agency referral system and joint working across public services in relation to housing and health.
 Building Employability Skills, Porchlight were successful in obtaining a sum of £10,000 to continue assisting vulnerable
people in gaining skills, confidence and improved self esteem to gain employment.
KHG
…collaboration for the benefit of Kent and its people…
Kent Housing Group
‘The Voice of Housing in Kent’
*Further information about how KHG will track the spend of Innovation Funding and how we will feedback the success of the
projects to all our partners is available on the KHG website (www.kenthousinggroup.org.uk)
Excellence Awards were presented to the following:
 Estate Management, the successful nominee was The Shepway Housing Income Team
 Tenant Engagement, the successful nominee was The Golding Homes Community Chest Fund
 Services for Vulnerable People, the successful nominee was The Folkestone Churches Winter Shelter
 Excellence in Homelessness Prevention & Innovation, the successful nominee was The Sevenoaks HERO Project
 Value for Money, the successful nominee was The 3 Tier Homebond project
 Excellence in Housing, there were two successful nominees in this category, Ute Vann, Policy and Strategy Officer in the
Supporting People Team at KCC and Paul McKenner, Strategic Housing Initiatives Manager at Ashford BC
KHG
…collaboration for the benefit of Kent and its people…