The results will be used in devising guidance for other areas with large numbers of providers.
A steering group consisting of Manchester council, the National Housing Federation and the Housing Corporation wants to see some landlords taking wider responsibility for neighbourhood management. Stock and management swaps including council homes are a likely result.
It is understood that the East Manchester pilot area has been widened in response to concerns from black and minority ethnic associations. But there are still worries for small associations.
Arawak Walton chief executive Cym D’Souza said: “Our concern was that the area has only a small black population, so it might not show what can be done on rationalising. That has now been taken on board. Now we want to see what incentives there can be for larger associations to offer stock to us, because we have none to swap.”
Harvest Group chief executive Ian Perry said it was essential to establish a model for neighbourhood management that ensured those taking extra responsibility got the devolved powers and cash to make it work.
“Some associations are well placed to do more on strategy, but in the north our incomes are being cut by rent restructuring,” he explained. “There is little money to spare.”
Perry called for the experiment to extend to Greater Manchester, giving associations more ability to use management efficiency.
National Housing Federation chief executive Jim Coulter said: “The neighbourhood renewal fund is intended to support change and will help shape how it is achieved. Councils will not be getting something for nothing.
“This is about getting the agents in place to deliver change and spend existing budgets in new ways.”
Source
Housing Today
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