Government Offices are working to ensure delivery of decent homes by local authorities and registered social landlords by 2010. This includes guiding local authorities and their tenants through the stock option appraisal process, which decide the most appropriate method of social housing provision for the housing stock currently managed by local authorities: the options are Stock Transfer, Arms Length Management, Private Finance Initiative and stock retention by the Council.
Government Offices support the development of Low Demand Pathfinders, which are projects based in those areas in the North and Midlands most acutely affected by low demand and abandonment. We work to strengthen and broaden the profile of housing in the regions through joint working with key regional and sub-regional agencies. We use our enabling role to develop relevant policy areas, such as tackling homelessness and progressing housing’s role in the wider social inclusion agenda, and are heavily involved in the Government’s initiative to develop sub-regional Housing Market Assessments.
Other ongoing responsibilities include advising ministers on discretionary allocations to local authorities against the Disabled Facilities Grant programme, helping local authorities to develop their housing strategies and business plans and dealing with ‘Right To Buy’ queries from the public.
