We just want to establish all roles
It’s good that Inside Housing is reporting news from Northern Ireland (Fears over delegation, Inside Housing, 7 May).
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I believe, however, that the first two paragraphs of the story presented a misleading picture by exaggerating my federation’s caveats about draft legislation that would give modest housing powers to reformed, larger district councils.
The Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations has consistently agreed that locally accountable councils with wider powers would, in the long term, be the most appropriate vehicle for meeting local priorities such as neighbourhood regeneration.
The new councils should play a key local planning and enabling role by working closely with the body with prime statutory responsibility for housing in Northern Ireland (the Northern Ireland Housing Executive) and the social housing delivery vehicles (registered housing associations).
The NIFHA is simply recommending that the respective roles should be more clearly discussed and agreed between the relevant players.
I hope that this makes our position clear.
Christopher Williamson, chief executive, NIFHA