“The ResPublica Report correctly identifies a disconnect between some housing associations and the communities around them, which are typically in more deprived areas. What the report has highlighted is two crucial points: firstly that these communities are bearing the brunt of the cuts and are most likely to have reduced public services, and secondly that they are the least enabled and equipped to respond to the changes effectively.
“The document shows that communities need effective support to really take advantage of their new rights under the Localism Act. Fewer and fewer publicly funded organisations have the capacity or the engagement role to react appropriately, particularly with the loss of community contact points such as libraries and Citizens Advice Bureaus. With local authorities cutting back on expenditure and focusing on delivering only core services, housing associations have become one of the few organisations that are equipped to engage with and respond to wider community needs.
“As the core purpose of housing associations has changed rapidly over the last few years, the report encouragingly shows that a number of housing associations are moving toward becoming more holistic neighbourhood organisations rather than just providers of housing. It is essential that national policy such as the Public Service (Social Value) Act 2012 expands its remit to cover this sector, meaning that housing associations that already apply its principles are acknowledged, and those that as yet do not are encouraged to do so.”
As the end of 2020 beckons, we take a look at what progress the Sterling market has made in its preparations for the end of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) on 31 December 2021.
Finally, there is a glimmer of hope that perhaps the Covid-19 pandemic could be reaching its end.
For part 2 in this series of short podcasts, Chris Lloyd-Smith interviews senior associate Lisa Whitehouse on how she has been coping during these unprecedented times.
Delayed since Spring 2020 as the Government tackled the Covid-19 crisis, Tuesday 17 November saw the publication of the Social Housing White Paper, setting out the future regulation of the sector
In this ebriefing, we examine how the duty holder regime will apply to social housing providers with existing HRRBs in their housing stock.
Following Katherine's "heads up" last week, the Government has now confirmed that for claim periods post 1 December, employers will not be able to claim for employees who are serving their notice
For part 1 in this series of short podcasts, Chris Lloyd-Smith interviews solicitor Puja Desai on how she has been coping during these unprecedented times.
Over 100 trainees and future trainees from Birmingham joined the BTSS for a webinar to address concerns around training remotely and qualifying during a possible recession.
Anthony Collins Solicitors has supported Birmingham-based Complete Care Holdings in its acquisition of Amegreen Complex Homecare Ltd.
The Guidance for the extended Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) was released last night on 10 November 2020. We thought we knew what we were expecting or so we thought...
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