One point in the Communities and Local Government department’s progress update stands out – mainly because it is written in red, and states: ‘Not complete’.
Amongst all the other actions with reassuring black status updates of ‘complete’ or ‘work started’ the line: ‘Publish consultation responses on options for the housing revenue account including voluntary arrangements’ leaps off the page.
The document in question is the first monthly update on the CLG’s Structural reform plan, which sets out the part it has to play in meeting overall government objectives such as transferring power to communities.
And in general it suggests the government has made a good start on its aims, meeting goals on revoking regional spatial strategies and setting out incentives for house building, and starting work on a whole host of initiatives.
Admittedly there are a few other self-imposed targets the government has failed to meet before the summer recess, such as nailing down its definition of zero carbon, but it does seem to be the HRA that is causing the biggest headache.
The structural reform update notes that the consultation concluded on 6 July, and says: ‘Responses have been analysed, but pressures of government business have prevented a response by end July’.
It goes on to say an announcement on HRA reform will be made by early September. But a quick scan through its upcoming targets suggests pressures of government business are unlikely to be easing any time soon.
CLG not only has the Localism Bill coming up in the autumn, it has also a vast array of deadlines including to set out plans for a home swap scheme for tenants by October, finish developing options for bringing empty homes back into use by December, and start promoting a scheme getting farmers to turn unused buildings into affordable housing by September.
It looks like ministers could have their holidays cut even shorter than usual. Behind the scenes at least, it will be a busy summer.
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