Who's Who within Leeds Housing Partnership

Introduction | The Leeds Housing Partnership Forum | The Leeds Housing Partnership Executive | Strategic Working Groups and Task Groups: | District Housing Partnerships

Introduction

The Leeds Housing Partnership consists a Forum, an Executive, 8 Strategic Working Groups and 3 District Housing Partnerships. These link together as follows:

District Housing Partnerships ensure local delivery of the Leeds Housing Strategy and its Investment programme and achieve outcome targets and identify local investment priorities and development opportunities

the 8 Strategic Working Groups develop policy and practice to enable District Housing Partnerships to deliver the Leeds Housing Strategy; they identify city-wide investment priorities against Strategic themes and set strategic framework for investment opportunities and policy development/implementation. The LHP Coordination Group specifically serves to coordinate reporting to the LHP Executive and ensure implementation of the Leeds Housing Strategy takes place.

The Leeds Housing Partnership Executive is the decision making body for the Leeds Housing Partnership: It approves the Leeds Housing Strategy and Leeds Housing Investment Programme for recommendation/ratification by Leeds City Council Executive Board and Narrowing the Gap Executive of the Leeds Initiative and sets the overall strategic framework for delivering the housing strategy and Investment programme. It acts as the strategic outcomes group for housing elements of the Leeds Strategic Plan.

The Leeds Housing Partnership Forum acts as the Partnership's scrutiny mechanism for housing strategy and Investment programme development and implementation and acts as the main consultation framework on housing policy and strategy development.

Top

The Leeds Housing Partnership Forum

The Forum acts as the Leeds Housing Partnership’s ‘business forum’ and steers and guides partnership work and the implementation of the Housing Strategy and its links to the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy and the Vision for Leeds. The Forum is responsible for ensuring partner involvement in developing and implementing the Leeds Housing Strategy and a ‘housing’ contribution to wider regeneration strategies.

It acts as the recipient of information on strategic development, corporate partnerships, regeneration strategy and reports from Strategic Working Groups and the approval or support of members is sought in relation to policy development either in the housing and regeneration fields or other related areas, such as housing benefits, Planning, Social Services and so on. The Leeds Housing Partnership Forum includes representatives of:

Registered Social Landlords (RSLs)

Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs)

Private landlords

Private developers and housebuilders

Voluntary housing organisations

Leeds Tenants Federation

Leeds City Council's strategic housing services (such as regeneration, housing renewal, environmental health, services to homeless people,affordable housing, housing advice services, Supporting People, services to asylum seekers)

Other Council services (such as Social Services, Planning, Housing Benefits)

Primary Care Trusts (PCTs)

The Police

The Universities

The Housing Corporation

The Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber

Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference for the Leeds Housing Partnership Forum are:

To own and endorse a programme of prioritised action identified by the Steering Group to deliver the Leeds Housing Strategy and the housing contribution the Leeds Regeneration Plan

To enable greater understanding of key issues of housing and regeneration policy and enable all involved to understand and recognise the links between housing partners and between action on housing and regeneration issues

To establish appropriate contributions from housing partners to the housing and regeneration agendas

To provide a means of engaging partners on a number of levels relating to their capacity and interests

To share good practice and experience and enable partnership working to deliver on the ground

The Executive and the Forum are chaired by Steve Williamson (Chief Executive of re'new) and is serviced by Huw Jones (Strategy and Intelligence Director of re'new) who also acts as Deputy Chair.

Minutes of Forum meetings and copies of the Leeds Housing Partnership Forum Update newsletter are contained in the Events and Meetings section of this Website.

Top

The Leeds Housing Partnership Executive

The Executive is responsible for driving the implementation of the Leeds Housing Strategy and its contribution to delivering the Vision for Leeds 2004 - 2020, the Leeds Regeneration Strategy and other key strategies in Leeds and implementation of the housing and regeneration strategies at a regional and sub-regional level. Its terms of reference are:

1. To establish, in communication with partners, processes for the delivery of the housing strategy and housing contributions to the Vision for Leeds and the Leeds Regeneration Strategy and to implement those processes

2. To ensure that housing strategy and investment in Leeds contribute to housing strategy and investment at a regional and sub-regional level

3. To lead groupings of partner organisations in identifying means of progressing actions under the housing and regeneration strategy through 8 Strategic Working Groups

4. To coordinate and guide the activities of three District Housing Partnerships in identifying means of progressing actions under the housing and regeneration strategy at a local level and their contribution to the five District Regeration Plans

Executive Membership
Membership of the Executive is currently under review but is representative of all housing tenures. Its current membership is as follows:

Andy Beattie, Leeds City Council, Neighbourhoods & Housing, Environmental Health Division
Paul Belbin, Voluntary Sector, Foundation Housing
Tony Bretherock, Government office of Yorkshire & The Humber
Jenny Brierley, Connect Housing
Andy Gamble, Accent Group
Eugine Jaruga, Keepmoat Partnerships
Mark Johnson, Dacre's
Lisa Jones, Housing Corporation
Steve Kettlewell, Leeds Property Association
Paul Langford, Leeds City Council, Environments & Neighbourhoods, Housing Services
Merren McRae, Leeds ALMO Representative
Johnathan Morgan, Morgans
David Smith, Leeds Tenants Federation
Matthew Walker, Leeds Federated Housing Association
Ged Walsh, Yorkshire Housing
Steve Williamson, Chair, re'new

Supported by:
Rob McCartney, Leeds City Council, Environments & Neighbourhoods, Housing Services
Bridget Emery, Leeds City Council, Environments & Neighbourhoods, Housing Services
John Statham, Leeds City Council, Environments & Neighbourhoods, Housing Services
Huw Jones,re'new, huw.jones@renew-leeds.co.uk

It holds 6 meetings a year based on key challenges and themes:

Housing Supply and Affordable Housing

Access to Housing

The agenda of the Executive is informed by:

Emerging Government Policy

National lobbying

Regional and Sub-Regional partnership issues

Reports from Neightbourhoods and Communities Partnership (NCP) and Leeds City Council (LCC) Neighbourhood and Housing Services

Housing Strategy review and update

City-wide Housing investment issues
Housing and Regeneration links

Reports from Strategic Working Groups

Research and market intelligence

LHP/District Housing Partnership co-ordination

Minutes of Executive meeting are held in the Events and Meetings section of this website.

LHP Coordination Group
The LHP Coordination Group is an officer group responsible for arranging effective reporting of progress on implementation of the Leeds Housing Strategy Action Plan and outcome targets to the LHP Executive and ensuring any appropriate remedial action recommended by the LHP Executive takes place: It

Provides a hub for Strategic Working groups, District Partnerships, LHP Executive and Forum

Formulates Leeds Housing Investment Programme in conjunction with District Housing Partnerships and Strategic Working Groups

Monitors performance against Housing Strategy Action Plan outcome/output targets

Ensures reporting mechanisms between:
LHP Executive and Forum
LHP Executive and NTG Executive
LHP Executive and District Housing Partnerships
Strategic Working groups and LHP Executive
SWGs and DHPs

Maintains LHP website and ensure effective communication between all parts of the partnership

Top

Strategic Working Groups and Task Groups:

The Leeds Housing Partnership Executive guides the formulation and implementation of the Leeds Housing Strategy and its contribution to the Leeds Regeneration Strategy through 8 Strategic Working Groups.

Click here to download a PDF of the Strategic Working Groups.

The groups established cover areas of activity relating to the priority themes set out in the Yorkshire and Humberside Housing Strategy which will form the basis for the revision of the Leeds Housing Strategy and the emerging Housing Strategy for West Yorkshire.

Housing and Planning Task Group

Chair: Eugene Jaruga - Keepmoat
Supported by: Megan Godsell - LCC Environment and Neighbourhood, Housing Services

Terms of Reference
1. To increase the provision of new affordable housing.
2. To implement and review Supplementary Planning Guidance supporting
affordable housing policy.
3. To propose mechanisms for using commuted sums.
4. To monitor implementation of revised arrangements for securing
affordable housing through PPG3.
5. To develop and seek approval for strategic current approach to disposal
of land and buildings and propose changes to ease housing development in
context of rising values.
6. To develop new non-development approaches to meeting need for affordable
housing.

Minutes of Housing and Planning Task Group meetings are held in the Reports/Publications a part of the Research/Reports section.

Fair Access Strategic Working Group

Chair: Jenny Brierley - Connect Housing/Sharon Allen - St. Anne's Community Services
Supported by: Environments and Neighbourhoods, Leeds City Council

Terms of Reference
1.0 Purpose
The overall aim of the Fair Access Strategic Working Group (FASWG) is to ensure that fair access issues are fully integrated into and implemented through all relevant housing strategies. This will ensure that the housing and related needs of all groups which experience specific difficulties or disadvantage in accessing quality housing are met.

2.0 Key objectives
The key objectives of the Fair Access SWG Group are to champion fair access in housing through:

Ensuring that the fair access dimension is integral to all aspects of housing strategy

Ensuring and promoting fair access to housing and housing related support services for all people who experience specific difficulties or disadvantage in accessing quality housing in Leeds.

informing and influencing other relevant agenda’s for example; community cohesion , neighbourhood renewal, health & social care

3.0 Key tasks
The Fair Access SWG will pursue the following key actions:

Champion fair access issues in Leeds at the Leeds Housing Partnership Executive and the LHP Coordination group, and at a sub regional/regional level

Review wider housing and regeneration strategies, local, regional and sub-regional to ensure they reflect and promote fair access to housing

Review health and social care policy development to assess impacts on fair access to housing

Review the development of relevant strategy, policy and procedure

Contribute to discussions on priorities for capital housing investment (through SRHP and other sources) and revenue funding (through Supporting People and/or Area Based Grant and Local Authority mainstream funding) to improve fair access

Ensure all partner organisations support the Fair Access agenda and are committed to the delivery of the action plans of relevant strategies

4.0 Approach
The key objectives and tasks of the Fair Access SWG will be achieved through the following approach:

enabling effective contribution from all partners

working cross-tenure

focussing on both neighbourhood and city-wide issues (and relevant impacts of sub regional/ regional and national issues)

influencing other providers of housing and associated services through the Leeds Housing Partnership

5.0 Accountability
The Fair Access Strategic Working Group will be accountable through the Leeds Housing Partnership Executive

6.0 Membership
The membership of the Fair Access Strategic Working Group includes representatives from Environments and Neighbourhoods and Adult Social Care (Leeds City Council), Primary Care Trust, ALMOs, Housing Association’s, Tenants and service user representatives, re’new and providers of housing related support services.
Members of the Fair Access Strategic Working Group will attend and make effective contribution to the bi-monthly meetings.

7.0 Administrative Support
Environments and Neighbourhoods will provide the administrative support to the group.

A copy of the Terms of Reference can be downloaded by clicking here. Minutes of the Fair Access Strategic Working Group meetings are held in the Events and Meetings Section of this Website.

Supporting people Core Strategy Group

Chair: Bridget Emery - LCC Environment and Neighbourhoods, housing Strategy and Commissioning
Supported by: Supporting People Team

Terms of Reference
1. To drive and ensure the implementation of a Supporting people strategy.
2. To ensure Supporting People and Homelessness strategies support wider housing and regeneration strategy and District Regeneration Plans/Housing Strategies.
3. To oversee implementation and review of Homelessness Strategy.
4. To monitor trends in homelessness applications and acceptances and identify service implications.
5. To ensure links with Yorkshire & Humberside and West Yorkshire Supporting people/Homelessness Groups.
6. To develop forward programme of sevice renew and investment
Minutes of Supporting People Task Group meetings are held in the Reports/Publications apart of the research/Reports section

Older Persons and Disabled persons Housing Strategy Group

Chair: Bridget Emery - LCC Environment and Neighbourhoods, housing Strategy and Commissioning
Supported by: Rob McCartney/Barry Bridle - LCC Environment and Neighbourhood

Terms of Reference
1. To develop and implement a housing and care strategy for older people.
2. To develop a housing strategy to meet the needs of people with disabilities.
3. To establish needs/requirements for adaptions to housing.
4. To promote provision of lifetime homes to enable all homes to accommodate people with disabilities.
5. To improve procedures for administering Disabled Facilities Grants.
6. To identify sheltered housing that is obsolete or in low demand.
7. To identify need for ‘staying put’ support to enable older people to live independently.
8. To identify fuel poverty issues for older people.
9. To develop a prioritised programme of investment
10. To utilise existing consultation arrangements to ensure involvement of people with disabilities in strategy formulation.

Minutes of Older Persons Housing Task Group meetings are held in the Reports/Publications apart of the research/Reports section

BME Housing Task Group

Chair: Ali Akbor - Unity Housing Association
Supported by: Lisa Huntley - re'new

Terms of Reference
1. To develop and implement a BME housing strategy .
2. To identify need for further research at a neighbourhood/local level and propose commissioning process.
3. To prepare an implementation plan for the BME Housing strategy.
4. To monitor the allocation of social housing to BME households.
5. To monitor restrictions in access to housing affecting BME communities.
6. To monitor the housing needs of new BME communities.
7. To develop a prioritised programme of investment

Minutes of BME Housing Task Group meetings are held in the Reports/Publications apart of the research/Reports section

Private Rented Sector Housing Task Group

Chair: Councillor Les Carter
Supported by: Andy Beattie, LC Environment and Neighbourhoods

Terms of Reference
1. Development and implementation of a private rented housing strategy
2. Encouraging a high quality private rented sector
3. Identifying the legitimate contribution of private rented housing
4. Promote membership of Leeds Landlords Accreditation Scheme
5. Monitor and promote HMO licensing
6. Monitor issues relating to housing benefit
7. Promote better standards of housing management by private landlords
8. Monitor the buy-to-let market

Leeds Landlords Accreditation Network: Terms of Reference
1. Monitor progress in membership of Leeds Landlords Accrditation Scheme
2. Receive information on new government and council policy and identify means of implementation
3. Highlight iissues of concern to landlords regarding accreditation
4. Develop the code of standards and update it to reflect changing legislation, customer expectations and costs
5. Promote LLAS to other landlords

Minutes of Private Rented Sector Housing Task Group meetings are held in the Reports/Publications apart of the research/Reports section

Shared Housing Task Group

Chair: Councillor Martin Hamilton
Supported by: Dayle Lynch, LCC North West Area Management Team

Terms of Reference

Development of a strategy for housing students

Monitor progress in delivery of high quality, affordable housing for students

Monitoring progress of the Shared Housing Action Plan

Monitoring of student living patterns

Encouragement of diversification of student residence

Improving management of student housing

Monitoring progress of neighbourhood and area management services to areas with high student population

Encourage development of a housing strategy for Leeds 6

Encourage partnerships between housing providers

Empty Homes Strategic Working Group

Supported by: Andy Beattie/Jon Hough, LCC Environment and Neighbourhoods

Terms of Reference

Top

District Housing Partnerships

There are 3 District Housing Partnerships with membership drawn from housing and related organizations working in each of the three areas (West and North West Leeds, East and North East Leeds and South and Outer East Leeds)

Purpose:
The purpose of the District Housing Partnerships is to formulate a comprehensive action plan, drawing together and harnessing the activities and energies of housing and other relevant partners, to contribute to the achievement of outputs and outcomes identified in the Leeds Local Area Agreement, Leeds Strategic Plan and the Leeds Housing Strategy and Action Plan.

Areas of Responsibility:
New Housing Provision
1. Determining gaps in housing provision and the need for new housing provision
2. Influencing the use of land sites in the ownership of the Strategic Affordable Housing Partnership (SAHP) and sites identified in the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) through proposing the best mix of new housing for those sites;
3. Influencing new housing developments in terms of scale, housing mix, housing quality and environmental standards
4. Advising on/proposing potential link ups between developing housing associations and between ALMOs and Housing associations

Housing Improvement and Investment
5. Identifying priorities for the refurbishment of housing
6. Identifying ‘empty home hotspots’ and actions for bringing empty homes back into use
7. Identifying priorities for housing support and measures to improve access to housing

For further information contact Huw Jones, huw.jones@renew-leeds.co.uk 0113 380 0860

Community Infrastructure
8. Ensuring that appropriate district based responses are in place to feed into cross cutting issues such as community cohesion, environmental improvement, community safety, anti-social behaviour and equality and diversity
9. Facilitating resident involvement in community engagement and empowerment processes

Information Sharing
10. Sharing of information on key strategic and operational developments; key investment decisions and business development, local issues and developments and on the potential local impact of central Government and Council policies and on good practice amongst housing providers.

Reporting:
The District Housing Partnerships will report to:

• the Affordable Housing Strategic Partnership on new housing and affordable housing developments

• the LHP Executive, via the LHP Coordination Group, on progress on LAA and Leeds Housing Strategy outcomes and outputs

• the District Core Groups/Networks on progress against LAA housing outcomes and outputs

For further information on District Housing Partnerships, please contact: Huw Jones, Strategy and Intellegence Director, re'new on 0113 3800860 or email, huw.jones@renew-leeds.co.uk

Top