The three finalists
The Rising Stars Cymru applications have been received and shortlisted. There are some exciting twists and turns to the programme this year with a variety of tasks to take on.
It includes a pre-TAI takeover of the CIH Cymru twitter account, as well as activities throughout the TAI conference, presentations, a ‘Can DO Corner’ drop-in session and a blog.
This year we have invited three housing professionals to judge the finalists over the course of the programme: Michala Rudman, empty homes officer at United Welsh Housing Association, Vikki Hiscocks, housing lecturer, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Jules Birch, editor of Welsh Housing Quarterly.
They are joined by the fourth judge… who could be you! Delegates at TAI will be entitled to one vote for a Rising Star Cymru finalist. Ballots can be cast at the CIH Cymru exhibition stand at any time during the conference. The finalist with the most votes will receive the ‘fourth judge’s’ vote.
The winner of Rising Stars Cymru will be announced by housing and regeneration minister Carl Sargeant during the final plenary at TAI 2014, Wales premier housing conference and exhibition on Thursday 27th March.
In the meantime enjoy these articles about the challenges and opportunities for Welsh Housing in 2014 from our three finalists. Their first Rising Stars Cymru task was to write them.
Lisa Evans
Corporate governance officer, NPT Homes
‘LIft off’ is the phrase that has been used to describe what 2014 will bring for welsh housing: a new era brought about by the landmark first welsh Housing Bill along with other unprecedented change.
The Bill is a brave, positive move in the right direction for housing in Wales and aims to provide more homes, improve quality, protect consumers and build on consensus across the sector. But it comes at a time in which the challenges facing the sector are mounting – continuing welfare reform and the impending introduction of universal credit, spending cuts, ongoing recession and other austerity measures. These significant and complex challenges mean that we have to be realistic about what we can deliver as a sector during the remainder of the year whilst maximising the opportunities ahead.
So how can the sector prepare itself for ‘Lift off’?
Key to gearing ourselves up to deliver on the Bill is tackling the dark cloud of continuing welfare benefit reform, which the Welsh Government claims has already cost Wales £930 million and which must clear before ‘Lift Off’ can happen. But every cloud has a silver lining and many housing associations have used the introduction of the bedroom tax as an opportunity to engage with tenants and applicants more than ever before and have reaped rewards as a result. Staff have been empowered to find out ‘what matters’ to tenants and applicants, implement innovative ideas, learn from best practice and work collaboratively with local authorities and the voluntary sector, for example credit unions, to deliver a range of bespoke services based on tenants’ and applicants’ needs. The outcome has been lower than anticipated levels of arrears, increased allocations and sustained tenancies which in turn sustain the business and communities respectively.
But how can we take this forward to secure the best outcomes for our communities and who is best placed to do it?
Housing associations are a constant presence. They have more frequent and diverse contact with people and communities than any other sector, providing assistance when it is needed most, in partnership with other professionals. They are arguably best placed to lead and influence collaborative work but need to adopt a strategic and clever approach to overcome the challenges faced.
A ‘change champions’ network could be established, initially across housing associations. The champions would be a diverse mix of staff, tenants, board members and other stakeholders. They would use their experience to share and implement best practice and innovation especially in lean systems thinking in order to deliver more with less, freeing up resources to re-invest into our communities. An innovation reward scheme based on impact vs cost savings could run concurrently to support their work. Once established, other sectors could join the network, delivering leaner services together and maximising the opportunities from future legislative changes such as the Planning Reform Bill and the Williams Commission report on public service governance.
With careful planning, understanding and a willingness to implement change 2014 could indeed be the year of ‘Lift Off’!
Follow Lisa on twitter @LisaEvans56
Catrin Lewis
Tenant and resident involvement support officer, Monmouthshire Housing Association
It’s no secret that 2014 is already shaping up to be a rollercoaster year for welsh social housing. not only must we continue to tackle the ever-growing issue of welfare reform and its effects upon our tenants, but we must also begin to contend with the results of
the williams Report and the upcoming Housing Bill.
Personally, I can see the Williams Report having a hugely positive long-term effect in Wales. I have long had issues with having 22 local authorities, and I cannot understand why it has taken so long to come to this conclusion. However, I am also far too aware of the short-term issues that will come with reorganisation, especially in terms of disparities in local services and council tax. Despite this, as housing professionals, we have long acknowledged the benefits of our organisations working together to provide better organised and funded projects, so why can’t our local authorities do the same? Economies of scale, more joined-up thinking, and tapping into the skill sets of professionals from different authorities all lend their support to this.
The biggest challenge I see 2014 presenting to Welsh social housing providers is that of an image crisis. While we do the best we can by our tenants and attempt to soften the blow of welfare reform, as I fully believe is right, I wonder if this will be the year where we start to reassess our role. Are RSLs effectively carrying out the role of the state by providing our tenants with diversionary tactics for anti-social behaviour, play schemes in the Summer and food bank services for our most vulnerable tenants?
Although many, including myself, will argue that we are rightly placed to be doing these things, I know that there will also be many who believe otherwise; with cuts in funding, as well as the pressures and strains central government place upon us, we should leave our responsibilities at providing homes and maintaining them. Indeed, I believe many of our tenants will share this sentiment. All of this goes hand in hand with the difficulties that come with bedroom tax and the benefits cap – how are we going to deal with those racking up arrears as a result? Should we be more lenient?
Will we start to turn our backs on people who may not be able to keep their rent accounts clear in the future?
To me, it is clear 2014 could be the year we see a huge split between those organisations who wish to maintain their place in the community, providing services to improve neighbourhoods, and those in it who believe we should work solely as landlords: this could be construed as both an opportunity and challenge, depending on which side of the argument you fall down on.
Ultimately, I believe that the greatest opportunity of 2014 is to bring us together as organisations and professionals. This is the year where we can pull together and show what Welsh housing is really made of.
Follow Catrin on twitter @catrinplewis
Kelsey Watkins
Communications and tenant engagement officer, Caerphilly County Borough Council
This will be a pivotal year for Welsh housing and the year that we begin to step out from the shadows of UK government with the first ever Housing Bill made in Wales for Wales. The Bill takes a whole sector approach and offers opportunities for stronger, more effective partnership working.
The Bill presents many opportunities for positive changes to housing in Wales, but with any change also comes challenge. The reform of homelessness law, for example, takes positive steps by placing a greater focus on preventative work and protection for children through the removal of the intentionality test.
However, the proposal to amend the priority need status for former prisoners does pose significant challenges to the successful rehabilitation of offenders. Effective partnership working between local authorities, prison services et al will be needed to ensure offenders are supported in finding sustainable, good quality housing before their release.
Improving the private rented sector is another key aspect of the Bill, which proposes compulsory registration and licensing for all private sector landlords, lettings and management agencies. This will do much to improve the quality and reputation of the private rented sector and offer people a sustainable alternative to social housing. But the resources required to administer and monitor this will be a challenge to local authorities, particularly in light of increasing public sector austerity.
One of the biggest opportunities for local authorities comes with the reform of the housing revenue account subsidy system, which signals the end of the transfer of housing revenues from Wales to UK government. This will mean more flexibility for stock retaining local authorities, with greater opportunities to invest in existing housing stock and the potential to build much needed new homes.
The recent publication of the Williams Commission report is also likely to have major implications for housing. The recommendations in the report do offer some positive opportunities for housing such as increased collaborative working and a greater focus on scrutiny and citizen engagement. The change in geographical boundaries may also offer new opportunities for local authorities and LSVTs to work together. For instance, sharing resources, skills and expertise to deliver sustainable community investment activities which result in tangible outcomes for tenants.
The suggested timescales for implementation, however, present a great deal of challenge and uncertainty for local authorities, particularly during a time they are already having to make some very difficult financial decisions. Reorganisation will have specific implications for the strategic function of local authorities of course, as well as upon the 11 who have retained their stock.
In summary, despite the many changes and challenges facing Welsh housing this year, we now have the opportunity to carve out our own future. As a sector, we are extremely resilient and resourceful, not afraid to face challenges head on. The way that the sector is dealing with welfare reform is a prime example of this: as we continually strive to find new, innovative ways to support our tenants and improve the communities in which they live.
Follow Kelsey on twitter @KelseyWatkins82
Congratulations to Lisa Evans, who was voted the Rising Stars Cymru 2014 winner at TAI