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From the archive - week of 26 June
Inside Housing looks back at what was happening in the sector this week five, 15 and 25 years ago
25 years ago
The need for a proper legal framework for housing associations was being exposed with the publication – and rebuttal – of a report on association committees.
A National Federation of Housing Associations (NFHA) book suggested committee members could find themselves exposed to unlimited personal liability even if they were acting reasonably and in pursuit of government policies. However, despite publishing the book – written by Anthony Taussig, barrister and chair of Notting Hill Housing Trust – the NFHA distanced itself from his views in a foreword.
The book, Housing Associations and Their Committees, pointed out that voluntary committee members, unlike company directors, had a personal liability in certain circumstances that could not be waived by the court.
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15 years ago
The Treasury was understood to be on the verge of easing the restrictions that prevented councils from investing in their homes through arm’s-length companies.
John Prescott, deputy prime minister at the time, was believed to have reached a deal with the Treasury to allow more authorities to benefit.
A Whitehall source said: “Everyone is expecting it to happen because it would make the Decent Homes target deliverable. Such a move would bring a flood of authorities showing an interest in round three. But it is all in the gift of ministers and the Treasury.”
Addressing the Local Government Association Annual Conference, Mr Prescott admitted the government’s housing policy had run into problems. “I am aware of the difficulties over arm’s-length housing companies and large-scale voluntary transfers,” he said.
“But let us be frank. If we are serious about dealing with the massive disinvestment in housing in this country, we need to be serious about the contribution to be made by both public and private sectors in capital financing.”
Five years ago
Ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games, the capital’s social landlords were preparing for transport chaos by stockpiling materials close to their properties.
With roads predicted to be gridlocked, an Olympics special issue of Inside Housing reported how many organisations were concerned about disruption to services such as repairs. To combat this, east London-based Poplar Harca was stockpiling toilet ball valves, locks, sheets of plywood and glass.
Other social landlords, including East Thames, Peabody, Southern Housing Group and Swan, were pooling storage facilities to ensure supplies were easily accessible.
Contractor Kier increased its supply chain and was warning operatives of traffic hotspots.