Community Housing Cymru’s Post

🗨️ “This budget prioritises Scotland’s most vulnerable communities, reflecting a commitment to vital public service investment. However, achieving sustainable public services requires deeper structural reform to address enduring financial challenges, which are affecting all four nations of the UK." ➡️ In response to the Scottish Budget 2025-26, CIPFA welcomes The Scottish Government’s efforts to deliver targeted investments addressing critical public service challenges, including commitments to housing, social security, and health care. While measures such as the £768 million allocation for affordable housing and a £1 billion uplift for local authorities are encouraging, long-term reforms remain essential to work towards achieving sustainable and resilient finances across the public sector in Scotland. 🔗 Read CIPFA Chief Executive Owen Mapley's full response here or below: https://lnkd.in/dC4ksK3H #ScottishBudget #Scotland #PublicFinance

💰 The budget looks to try and tackle the Housing crisis by committing to significant funds to sector and changes to the right to buy rules. Key points to note: 🏠 Investment in Social Housing: Labour is treating social housing as vital national infrastructure, which could lead to increased investment and policy changes aimed at boosting the supply of new social housing. 🏠 Support for Councils and Housing Associations: Measures are included to support Councils and Housing Associations in building their capacity to contribute more significantly to affordable housing supply. 🏠 Protection of Existing Stock: Plans to better protect existing social housing stock by reviewing right-to-buy discounts and increasing protections on newly built social housing. 🏠 With the changes to right to buy it will allow full receipt of the generation of sales, allowing for more investment back into affordable Housing Positive steps for the sector but still a lot of work to do to fix the crisis. Would be keen to see what my connections within Housing think of the announcement today. Is it going to help that much? #affordablehousing #budget2024 #socialhousing

On the eve of the general election, back in early July, I spoke to Public Finance magazine about why solving the housing crisis is one of the biggest and most important challenges for the new government. We discussed many of the challenges faced by housing associations and councils including the lack of public funding for building safety works in social homes, the under-investment in social housing over the past 15 years, the significant impact of social rent cuts and caps, and short-term, piecemeal housing and planning policies. We also discussed the massive opportunity for change. At the end of this extensive interview I was asked if I’m optimistic about solving the housing crisis and the future of social housing? Here’s my response: “Absolutely, yes... There’s a huge opportunity for the new government to set out a bold and confident vision for the kinds of communities we can live in. It will take ambition, the right policy environment and the right funding. But it can be done.” You can read the full interview here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eZ8ib_4w #PlanForHousing

The new Labour government has promised significant reforms to the UK's housing system, prioritising the construction of new social rented homes 🏘️ 🤝 However, addressing the social housing shortage requires an estimated £16.9 billion annually, which can only be unlocked if the government actively seeks to crowd in private investment. 🎯 For instance, in 2022, we invested an additional £10 million alongside the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to deliver 215 housing units for individuals and families facing homelessness or stuck in temporary accommodation. Such projects utilise private capital to fund safe, affordable homes – often for people experiencing challenging life circumstances – whilst also aiming to provide investors with competitive and risk-adjusted financial returns. Read this interview with our Managing Director, Gemma Bourne, in PropertyEU to know more 👇 https://bit.ly/3S8P58c

With the Scottish Government announcing £768m in the budget for affordable housing, it will most definitely be welcome by the industry and the people they serve, but the scale of the housing crisis and the challenges faced by social landlords is such that it's only just the starting point. Shona Robison indicates that she will look at all levers available to deliver... let's hope she finds the right levers to prise open the public purse and direct the £££ to where it is most needed. Long-term future planning is just as important as addressing the short-term crisis points, and to do that housing industry needs consistency and longer term monetary commitments. It's unlikely to come from Government, so social landlords will need to consider how to best to utilise private finance to take full advantage of the public finance boost.

Pre-#Budget2024, we identified £2.5bn of levelling up funding that was stuck in limbo. Ending the uncertainty and honouring the commitments made to communities is the right choice for government to make – one we commend them for making in difficult circumstances. Funding for MHCLG’s core levelling up projects will provide £1bn to revitalise high streets, town centres, and communities. Retaining and reforming the Long-Term Plan for Towns into a new regeneration programme honours the commitments to funding made to communities. However, communities are still awaiting confirmation that Round 4 of the Community Ownership Fund will be completed. Community businesses urgently need clarity on this. Government must keep listening to the public and make sure councils work with their local community to ensure the money is well spent on the things people care about. The move towards a new model of regeneration funding that is allocative and based on need is the right one. Today’s #Budget2024 also introduced plans to transform business rates, which will bring about a much-needed equalisation between brick and mortar and online business. In doing so, government will help bring life back to our struggling high streets. It’s important that the next stages of the Government’s business tax reform plans also recognise the wider contributions of the diverse community business sector in improving social and economic productivity of our high streets and providing a meeting place for local communities. But many community businesses cannot wait for long-term reforms. A similar interim rates relief is needed. This would ensure communities can do business on the high street and continue to reinvest in their local economies. For our full analysis of the £2.5bn of Levelling Ups funds no longer stuck in limbo: https://lnkd.in/eR3Tx2Du

Devolution White Paper sets out government vision for integrated settlements and strategic authorities https://lnkd.in/e6QTmQaT ...The most far-reaching and flexible powers are reserved for the highest level – ‘Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities’ – including integrated settlements... #localgovernment #localgov #funding #integratedsettlements #reorganisation #strategicauthorities #housing #audit

It’s time for the government to work with local infrastructure organisations and the voluntary sector to support vulnerable communities affected by the cost of living crisis.   In yesterday’s #SpringBudget announcement, there was no additional funding for local authorities. This lack of stability makes it harder for councils to partner with local infrastructure organisations and the VCSE to provide much-needed services for their residents. The continuing uncertainty on local government finances has a concerning knock on effects for individuals, communities and the VCSE sector. We are working with our members to respond to this issue.   We were pleased to see the extension of the Household Support Fund for a further six months to September 2024, which many of our members have been helping to distribute on behalf of local councils. The additional investment of £500 million will provide essential support for the most vulnerable households, preventing further destitution. We urge government to work with councils and the voluntary sector now to plan together how this essential support can be provided into the autumn and winter of 2024.   What did you think of the Spring Budget announcements, and how will this affect your work? Let us know in the comments. 💬

National Assembly Passes the Appropriation Bill   On Thursday, 25 July 2024, the National Assembly passed the 2024 Appropriation Bill, which allocates funds from the National Revenue Fund for the 2024/25 financial year. This Bill also sets conditions for spending funds for the 2025/26 financial year.   The Bill, initially tabled by Finance Minister Godongwana in February, includes additional spending proposals and aims to balance fiscal consolidation with development. Key spending areas include a focus on the social wage (health, education, social protection, community development, and employment programs) and increased capital investment. After passing the National Assembly without amendments, the Bill will be sent to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence.   #AppropriationBill #FiscalPolicy #SouthAfricaBudget

Years of underinvestment by central government, combined with the cost of living crisis, is a huge concern in Grimsby. We featured in this Power to Change statement on the #budget2024 showing how we provide training and opportunities for people who lack the funds and background to get ahead with our Ethical Recruitment at Centre4 If you're a community organisation, what are your thoughts about the Budget and how it affects you? https://lnkd.in/eymkSVmN