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Morning Briefing: in-depth report on homelessness crisis in east London borough
A new investigation exposes the homelessness crisis in Newham, while outsourcing and procurement is thrust into the spotlight
In the news
In the first of its Hidden Homeless series, the Newham Recorder has run an investigative piece looking at homelessness in the borough.
It says there are 4,892 families without a permanent home, the highest figure for 10 years.
The Guardian takes a fresh angle on this topic, examining a movement in Manchester to give cameras to homeless people and encourage them to sell the photos.
The Evening Standard focuses on government outsourcing, reporting that government contracts to private contractors hit £3bn in the quarter that saw Carillion collapse.
It notes that one of the most significant contracts was the £800m one given to Wates Residential to regenerate 12 estates in Havering, covered by Inside Housing at the time.
On a related topic, Building reports that the Construction Leadership Council’s Ann Bentley has called for procurement to be about more than just the lowest price.
In a report for the government, she said the construction sector could save £15bn a year by overhauling procurement practices.
Meanwhile, politics is still at the forefront of the minds of many in the sector. The London School of Economics’ Tony Travers writes in the Local Government Chronicle that the constant churn of housing ministers is making it difficult to meet housing goals.
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry continues apace, and the national media has not lost interest. The BBC reports that TV news footage showing Grenfell Tower in flames influenced the fire service in abandoning its ‘stay put’ advice to residents.
Elsewhere, unlikely housing crisis warrior Michael Eavis, the founder of Glastonbury Festival, has donated some of his land in the West Country for affordable housing, to be built using stone from his quarry.
The idea has even won the backing of David Beckham and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, a friend of Mr Eavis.
On social media
The reaction to Dispatches rumbles on as The Times runs a follow up:
Not really news & The Times is stirring this for its own anti #socialhousing agenda but does highlight indefensible pay particularly when they drive down pay & conditions of their workers, refuse to recognise unions, cut services t.co/QBEOagx397 #ukhousing
— Paul Kershaw (@1917paul)Not really news & The Times is stirring this for its own anti #socialhousing agenda but does highlight indefensible pay particularly when they drive down pay & conditions of their workers, refuse to recognise unions, cut services https://t.co/QBEOagx397 #ukhousing
— Paul Kershaw (@1917paul) July 17, 2018
And G15 chair Paul Hackett gives his view on procurement:
Absolutely agree - its very easy to book impressive savings on paper and then repent at leisure. As long term investors, it’s especially important HAs understand the difference between lowest cost and best value. #ukhousing #VFM #efficiency #procurement t.co/6ag1QdAjla
— Paul Hackett (@PaulHackett10)Absolutely agree - its very easy to book impressive savings on paper and then repent at leisure. As long term investors, it’s especially important HAs understand the difference between lowest cost and best value. #ukhousing #VFM #efficiency #procurement https://t.co/6ag1QdAjla
— Paul Hackett (@PaulHackett10) July 18, 2018
What’s on
- The Grenfell Tower Inquiry will again be in session today. Proceedings should move slightly more quickly than they have in recent weeks, with the afternoon giving over to merely reading statements into the record, rather than lengthy questioning of witnesses.
- The Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee will hear evidence from 9.30 this morning on local authority support following the Grenfell Tower fire.
- In London, City Hall’s Planning Committee will consider a report on the mayor’s Strategic Housing Market Assessment.
- And finally, rumour has it that the long-awaited Social Housing Green Paper will be released today.
