Quarterly Report
July 2000
Representation
The following organisations have applied for membership of the CCH in the last 3 months:
- Agar Grove TMC
- Ewart Road Housing Co-op
- Latin American Housing Co-op
- Paddock Housing Co-op
- Roupell Park RMC
- Twin Towers Housing Co-op
- Twin Crescents TMC
- Unit 11 Housing Co-op
- Wandsworth Community Housing Co-op
Policy
We await a response from Nick Raynsford on points raised with him at a meeting with him in March. The CCH have drafted a response to the Housing Green Paper.
The Housing Corporation have recently published a draft strategy for resident control. While the Corporation appear for the first time to be endorsing tenant control, much of the strategy is very muddled and the CCH intends to seek further dialogue with Baroness Dean. There is clearly a need for the Corporation to develop dialogue with representatives of tenant control.
We anticipate the publication of the Institute for Public Policy Research's final report on the future of social housing at the end of July. The CCH have also responded to the Social Exclusion Unit's report. A submission has also been made to the Co-ops Commission, and a meeting has been arranged with Pauline Green, the Chief Executive of the Co-op Union, to put meet on the bones of the recent Co-op Congress's resolution to support the CCH and the housing co-op movement.
Promotion
The CCH continues its regional promotion strategy. Planning has begun on a conference in Bristol, and future regional conferences are planned for the East Midlands, the North-West and London (in Feb 2001).
The CCH's next annual conference will be held at the International Co-op College in Loughborough on 23/25 March 2001.
Research
Service provision to housing co-ops
The CCH's research into how organisations provide services to housing co-ops is progressing well. Detailed interviews have now been held with all but one of the service providers and the research is still on course for completion by Autumn 2000.
Database of policies & procedures
The policy compilation work continues and publication has been delayed due to suggestions that further areas should be covered. It has been agreed that the CCH will charge for access to these policies (although charges will only cover administrative costs for CCH members).
Code of Governance
It is intended that the CCH's Code of Governance will go out for consultation shortly amongst CCH members and other relevant organisations. The CCH intend to seek endorsement of the Code from the NHF.
Tenant Control & Social Exclusion
The CCH's research into the effects of tenant control on social exclusion has now moved forward into the case study element of the project. It is still planned that the research will be concluded by Feb 2001.
Housing co-ops and home ownership
The CCH's work on the Community Land Trusts model has attracted some interest from Birmingham City Council, where it is intended to develop a pilot scheme. It is intended to carry out further work on co-ops and home ownership options.
Publicity
The CCH continues to play a key role in getting the message about housing co-ops and tenant control across in various forums. Events attended in the last 3 months include:
- BCHS housing co-ops weekend
- LFHC Forum
- UWE tenants conference
- Bristol Social Economy conference
- ICOM conference
- Birmingham Co-op Party
- National Federation of TMOs conference
- ATIC conference
