learn with us. improve with us. influence with us. community housing mutuals keith edwards cih...

Learn with us. Improve with us. Influence with us. www.cih.org

community housing mutuals Keith EdwardsCIH Cymru, November 2013

Learn with us. Improve with us. Influence with us | www.cih.org

outline• community housing mutuals

- what they are- where they are- why they are- who they are

• taking stock – the story so far• future challenges


community housing mutuals:what they are

• Made in Wales stock transfer- accountability- community regeneration

• Rules: IPS or CLG (Cobbetts / Wales Co-op Centre)- all tenants can choose to be members- assets ‘belong’ to tenants- community regen = constitutional obligation- dynamic – local devolution- based on Co-operative Principles

• Board: tenants / LA reps / local ‘independents’


community housing mutuals:what they are

Co-operative Principles

1. Open membership2. Democratic Member Control3. Members' Economic Participation4. Autonomy and Independence5. Education, Training and Information6. Co-operation among Co-operatives7. Concern for Community


community housing mutuals:where they are


devolution referendum 1997


general election 2010


referendum 2011: extending powers


% of population reporting ‘good health’


Location of long term illness


pupils failing to reach level 4 at Key Stage 2 (average for English and Maths)


index of multiple deprivation 2008


demand for debt advice services


South Wales coalfield


a Close Encounters moment?


revolutions start here!‘Our part of the world is famous as a crucible of economic, social and environmental transformation … the Industrial Revolution … the Chartist Movement … the National Health Service’

GENuS consortium


community housing mutuals:why they are

• the acceptable face of transfer – especially for Labour

• no viable Plan B / investment logjam• Government support• accountability is the key• realism

- no idealised notions of community but- neither have communities mutated /

degenerated in 30 years


community housing mutuals:who they are

BlaenavonPontypoolCwmbran

• ‘social enterprise run by staff and members ‘• public service ethos - provide support for people who need it• partnership with residents and the Council• maximise community benefits including local jobs & skills – in

house• open to all tenants, leaseholders and homeowners living in

Torfaen



Rhondda ValleysPontypriddAberdare

• ‘more than a landlord’ • membership open to tenants’ families and local

residents.• constitutional commitment to community involvement

and regeneration • innovative multi-million pound procurement process



Ebbw ValeTredegar

‘tenants at the heart of everything we do’

NeathPort Talbot

‘no one knows communities better than the people who live there’


taking stock: the story so far• WHQS: £3 Billion• 11 of 22 councils transferred:

- 4.5 mutuals- others ‘quack & walk’ like mutuals

• A more mixed social housing economy• transfers out perform LAs and traditional RSLs

- WHQS investment- community regeneration

• WHQS Plus – standard for housing & beyond• rebirth for housing co-ops?


WHQS plus The i2i / Savills reports:

if you’re going to do it, do it well:

1. local local jobs / regeneration 2. community ownership


the Can Do Toolkit 1 • TR&T - targeted recruitment and training• core requirement• it’s legal• it works• it’s free


the Can Do Toolkit 2

• SME Friendly procurement• improve client side skills• simplify procurement• upskill SMEs


4 years on…?• 3,765 job and training

opportunities across Wales• Conditions of Welsh

Government Grants• Welsh Government double

default- ‘core’ requirement- jobs and training

• Not just construction!


a rebirth of co-op housing?

500 new affordable co-operative homes• Newport–£650,000 for 20 co-operative

Shared Ownership houses / Seren Group • Cardiff- £408k for 10 Co-operative Social Rent

homes / Cadwyn HA• Carmarthenshire - £851k for 27 Cooperative

Shared Equity / Gwalia Group…… and many more coming through


future challenges

• Main programmes delivered• local government reorganisation – the end of

co-terminosity• Not many green shoots – and welfare reform!• Welsh Government – a distinct and developing

narrative• Agents of local and long term change


future challenges

‘localism without resources – or centralism as we used to call it’

Tim Williams


Wales is a different country

• no longer ‘England . . . and Wales’

• we’re not Scotland• confidence and capacity• can new Revolutions start here?

learn with us. improve with us. influence with us. community housing mutuals keith edwards cih...

Documents

community slide

maths slide

tenants community

good health slide

south wales coalfield

community regeneration

idealised notions of

members assets