It is great to see the London boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham being really proactive in their approach to improving social housing.
Some people that have previously been contributing and tax paying members of our society will, at least temporarily, fall on hard times. It is important that we have enough decent social housing to cope with this increase comfortably. This is clearly an issue that should bother us all in this economic climate.
Hammersmith and Fulham Homes (H&FH) have joined together with Northgate Public Services, who are well known for their innovations, in what they claim is a unique public-private arrangement. Their goal is to ensure local people benefit from the Government’s Decent Homes programme to provide people with high quality and sustainable social housing.
They are trying to create a scheme linking fees to performance and prioritising the transfer of skill to employees.
Services are expected to be self funding and the partnership is aiming to deliver 4.7 million in efficiencies until 2010.
Joe Bradley, Managing Director of Citizen Services at Northgate Public Services, added: “Northgate is passionate about delivering first-class housing that focuses on the needs of all tenants, including those in the most vulnerable communities.
Sounds ideal, let’s hope it all works out as planned.
