Birmingham is set to hand over its council homes to local housing organisations within four years after the council's cabinet backed the report of the independent housing inquiry.
In its response to last month's independent commission report, chaired by London School of Economics professor Anne Power, the council's cabinet supported proposals for 35 community-based housing organisations.

Each of these CBHOs would be run by local managers and residents.

The cabinet also backed plans to set up two CBHO pathfinder areas, but failed to give any assurance that the three-month target set by the commission would be met.

The cabinet's response will be put to the council on 14 January and, if approved, will form the basis for consultation with tenants.

Sandra Jenkinson, cabinet member for housing, said Birmingham hoped to have the pathfinders operational within three months, but added that progress would depend on the wishes of tenants.

She continued: "We expect to have gathered responses to the entire report by the end of February, and in areas where people don't want change there is no reason why there should be change."

Jenkinson added, however, that a number of housing liaison boards across the city have expressed interest from residents in becoming CBHO pathfinder areas.

Criteria for choosing which two areas are yet to decided, although the council is understood to be interested in selecting areas with a range of housing stock types and tenures.

Source

Housing Today