There are always problems in getting beneath positive spin, and it is never easy deciphering the code and spotting the new as opposed to the old money; but the Communities Plan deserves more than wary cynicism.

There is now a genuine challenge for all involved in securing funds for council housing.

Perhaps the most important statement is that local authorities have to make rigorous appraisals of their options by mid-2005 and that there will have to be government "sign-off" on these. With the boost to PFI for social housing and with a great deal of extra money for ALMOs, there is real choice here. But there is enough, even before "transfer review" results, to show that transfer will be irresistible for many authorities. Much now hangs on resolving technical "delivery" issues.

There are certainly some hints in the plan that the government will respond positively to suggestions that have been made to deliver the bottom-up, "mix and match" agenda advocated for Birmingham and elsewhere; but the problems should not be underestimated.

It is easy to commit to responsive, localist solutions, but difficult to overcome the financial, regulatory and legal problems inherent in partial transfer approaches.

Let's hope the plan continues to look like a step change when we examine the detail that is about to appear.

Source

Housing Today

Postscript

Ian Doolittle is a partner and head of public sector at solicitor Trowers & Hamlins idoolittle@trowers.com