It is understood that this decision was made after internal disquiet about the cautious nature of the team's final report as revealed in Housing Today (issue 137).
In a letter to the magazine, the external members of the team insisted that the report "will be significant for the future of housing management," but they added that "compromises" had to be reached.
Privately however, several members went much further in expressing disappointment about the conclusions.
And sources on the team claimed that this concern prompted the decision to put the report out for consultation. Members were also unhappy after being denied the chance to comment in detail on the findings. It is understood that in the final stages officials ruled out detailed ammendments because of their anxiety to submit the report to ministers by the initial deadline.
Armstrong made the announcement about consultation at a Housing Quality Network conference this week. She said: "The team has decided that their ideas should be exposed to a wider audience who will almost certainly have views on what is recommended. I urge you all to take the opportunity to make your contribution to the debate."
Social Exclusion Unit deputy director Jon Bright told Housing Today that the rumpus about the report was a "storm in a tea cup". He also denied that internal disquiet had influenced the decision to consult. But Bright claimed that other teams might also consult on their conclusions. He said: "Each report will be judged on its merits."
He also revealed that the SEU's report on neighbourhood renewal, which will draw together the work of all the action teams, may itself be issued as a consultation exercise next spring.
Source
Housing Today
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