Annual report - May 2006
CCH/NFTMO/CHG strategy
The CCH, NFTMO and the Co-operative Housing Group, consisting of representatives from Co-ops UK, Co-op Party, Co-op Bank and others, have continued to work on developing a strategy for co-op and community controlled housing. The first draft is due to be launched at the CCH & NFTMO conferences in May & June.
Key parts of the strategy include:
- the case for community controlled housing
- a proposal that social housing be redefined as community membership owned housing spanning owner occupation and people in housing need
- an analysis of co-op and community controlled housing
- changing social housing
Submissions
During the year, the CCH has made submissions to:
- ODPM consultation on Local Strategic Partnerships
- Labour Party Sustainable Communities Commission
- NHF Tenant Involvement Commission
Community Gateway
This year has seen the launch of the first Community Gateway Association in Preston in November 2005 (with 700 tenants becoming members - over 10% of tenants - in the first 6 months). With Watford, Tamworth, Braintree, Brighton, Lewisham (partial) and Kings Lynn & West Norfolk considering Community Gateway with their tenants, the CCH hosted a Gateway review meeting with Co-ops UK, the Chartered Institute of Housing, the Housing Corporation and the ODPM.
Co-op finance
Keen to take advantage of prospective legislation on Real Estate Investment Trusts, the CCH and the Co-op Housing Group has initiated work to develop a co-op REIT to mobilise co-op movement assets and potentially rationalise assets in the housing co-op sector.
CCH membership
The CCH continues to provide assistance and support to housing co-op and other members. Providing advice on anti-social behaviour policies, housing co-op tenancies, houses in multiple occupation legislation, service agency support are but some of the queries dealt with this year.
Working with the NFTMOs
We continue to work well with our partners in the NFTMO. Following the success of our joint 2005 conference, we have published a joint newsletter with them through the year. With separate conferences this year (due to workload), it is planned to hold a large joint co-op and community controlled housing celebration in 2007.
