Councillors and MPs talk housing
09/03/09
A reception at the House of Commons on 28 January was an opportunity for local councillors and MPs to discuss some of the challenges facing housing in the South East.
The Chartered Institute of Housing South East had invited over 100 politicians and housing leaders to examine how better to work together to tackle shortages in affordable housing in the current economic climate. The event was sponsored by Paul Clark MP for Gillingham.
Laura Moffatt MP for Crawley stepped in to host the event when Paul Clark was called away on government business. She said, 'You cannot get better conversation, more inspiration, more free thinking about how to provide housing in the South East than with the Chartered Institute. It's always been an absolute pleasure to work with you and listen to some of the solutions that you know are needed in these extremely difficult times.
'Keep on the tail of your members of parliament, keep talking to them about ideas that you have and solutions that you can think of because we are all open to hearing how to deal with what are extremely difficult and challenging housing issues. They have always been here, but in the new economic climate they are now presenting us with a chance to think a little more ambitiously about how we provide decent homes to the people we care about in our communities in the South East.'
David Edwards, Regional Director of the Homes and Communities Agency, welcomed the opportunity to exchange views and network with members of parliament, councillors and housing leaders. He said that the Homes and Communities Agency was 'very much sitting down with local authorities, registered social landlords and developers - particularly where schemes have stopped or stalled - on how we can come alongside and help, and how we keep delivery going over the next few years. That is going to involve money, but also expertise and new thinking, and it's a challenge for all of us in terms of how we work together.'
David continued, 'But it's not just about numbers, and there is a very strong commitment at the Homes and Communities Agency in terms of the communities element: health, education, skills, everything that goes with housing to make a community, and importantly, the design and quality.'
Chartered Institute of Housing President, Steve Benson, stressed the importance for housing professionals of making and maintaining effective links with MPs and local councillors, as well as the Homes and Communities Agency and regional bodies, to help in planning and delivering housing and related services. He announced a new South East Housing Coalition between the Chartered Institute of Housing, Shelter and the National Housing Federation providing a united voice for housing in regional economic planning. Steve said that the three organisations would 'work together in the South East to provide support to the Regional Minister, to MPs and to the regional bodies responsible for taking forward the strategies and plans to maintain the South East as a successful and prosperous region.'
Councillor Nicolas Heslop, Cabinet Member for Community Development on Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, was pleased to meet with housing leaders from the South East as well as other parliamentarians. 'It was a good networking event and it was good to hear some of the messages coming out in these very difficult times for social housing provision.'
Barbara Thorndick, Chief Executive of West Kent Housing Association, Chair of the National Housing Federation South East and Chair of the PlaceShapers Group, added, 'I have a real interest in maintaining good relationships with MPs. I really appreciated the CIH South East event at the House of Commons which was all about meeting our local MPs. The pressure on housing in the South East means that our MPs are often contacting us about the needs and problems of their constituents. It is great to have occasions like this one where we can meet and develop mutual understanding and respect.'