Shaping the debate

Annual report 2010/11

Contents

04 Chair’s foreword Cover images (clockwise, from top left): Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark; 05 Chief executive’s foreword residents at St Catherine Court, Hanover (image courtesy of Hanover); David Orr, Health 06 National Housing Federation board Secretary Andrew Lansley and CHS chief executive Nigel Howlett at the launch of the 2010/11 Federation’s Invest in housing, invest in health publication; and the Federation’s poster for 07 Leadership team the Shhh... don’t mention the housing crisis campaign at Westminster tube station 07 The business plan for 2010/11

08 Delivering the business plan for 2010/11 National Housing Federation Lion Court, 25 Procter Street 18 Other priorities in 2010/11 London WC1V 6NY Tel: 020 7067 1010 19 Looking to the future – the business plan www.housing.org.uk www.inbiz.org for 2011/12

21 Board accountability Designed and printed by SPY Design and Publishing Ltd 21 Accountability and engagement Published by the National Housing Federation, September 2011 22 Financial summary 2010/11

Annual report 2010/11 3 Chair’s foreword “ I’m reassured by the results of our member survey, but we need to keep aiming high to provide maximum value for money.”

The business year 2010/11 was an extraordinary A further result of our assessment of risk, and focus period. Having already identified risk management on the Federation’s finances, was our decision to as one of our key priorities the previous year, launch a business strategy review. This will assess the board found itself in the midst of a phase the Federation’s role, strategy and financing, with of profound political change and economic the aim of ensuring we continue to meet members’ uncertainty. Consequently, we had to assess needs and provide maximum value for money. comprehensively the new risks posed both to the The review, which will be wide-ranging and involve operating environment for housing associations members, follows on from our biennial member and to the Federation itself. survey – conducted during 2010/11 – which showed By establishing a clear strategic path for the that 69% of members believe the Federation organisation in response to the Government’s represents ‘good value for money’, up from 56% radical housing agenda, the Federation has been two years ago, 83% believe the Federation is an able to respond effectively to developments and ‘effective source of advice’, up from 77%, and 93% provide strong sector leadership. believe we are ‘proactive in shaping policies and initiatives which will benefit the sector’. We placed an emphasis on engagement with the new Government – and Federation staff regularly met with While these figures are impressive, we believe we figures such as Work and Pensions Secretary Iain must continually assess our offer to ensure we Duncan Smith, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles always provide the best possible service. The review and Housing Minister Grant Shapps. Reacting to the will provide us with a clear roadmap for the future. changing external environment, the board signed off I would like to thank the Federation’s staff and an adjusted package of campaign and lobby priorities the board for their work on behalf of housing following the May 2010 general election. associations. I would also like to thank all those Over the course of the year, we persuaded the officers and board members from our member Government to retain the existing rent formula and organisations who helped contribute to our provide greater flexibility around the development successes in 2010/11. contracts offered under the new funding model. We also helped to persuade ministers to drop their proposal to cut housing benefit for those who have been unemployed for more than a year. Closer to home, the leadership team identified the need for the Federation to drive further costs out of the business and signed off a package of measures also designed to improve service delivery. These have led to the business being streamlined, with Matthew Taylor a 7% reduction in staff, and internal costs being Chair reduced by as much as £500,000. National Housing Federation

4 Annual report 2010/11 Chief executive’s foreword “ Over the past year we have responded swiftly to the challenging agenda, lobbying for change and ensuring your views are heard at the highest level.”

During 2010/11, as a new government set out During the current business year, we have a radical, new programme for housing, the continued to represent the views of housing Federation’s board ensured that we were in a good associations, helping to persuade ministers to position strategically to shape the debate. As the adopt a presumption in favour of sustainable details of the new programme emerged, the board development in the new National Planning Policy set the direction for the organisation – ensuring Framework. that we responded to the rapidly changing We have also convinced the Accounting landscape in a dynamic fashion. Standards Board to take steps to ensure that the While ministers proposed radical reform of welfare, implementation of the new International Financial a new approach to planning, a hugely reduced Reporting Standards does not lead to billions of housebuilding budget and cuts to Supporting pounds being wiped from housing balance sheet People funding, we represented the views and asset and reserve totals. concerns of our members through meetings with With value for money being our top priority, we ministers, MPs and other stakeholders – and by decided towards the end of the last business putting across the sector’s case in the national and year to restructure the organisation – so that we regional media. could improve service delivery and streamline the As well as securing the successes mentioned by business. Through this process we reduced our Matthew Taylor in his foreword on the previous staff headcount by 7% (following a reduction of 5% page, through taking this proactive approach, we the previous year) and put in place a leaner, more persuaded the Government to retain affordable efficient structure. housing’s exemption from the Community We are now extremely well placed to work Infrastructure Levy and to make provision for gap effectively with decision-makers and opinion funding payments to stock transfer associations formers to secure the best possible operating until at least March 2015. environment for you. We also persuaded ministers to limit the cuts made to the Supporting People budget – although of course we then had to press local authorities not to pass on further cuts to services at the local level. We persuaded ministers to continue to provide funding for aids and adaptations and secured ongoing funding for the national mortgage rescue scheme. We also launched the West Midlands pilot David Orr of affordable credit scheme My Home Finance – Chief executive with the support of 20 local housing associations. National Housing Federation

Annual report 2010/11 5 National Housing Federation board 2010/11

The Federation board has twelve members and is led by chair Matthew Taylor. During 2010/11, it set the strategic direction for the organisation, and dealt with policy issues and business effectiveness. Board members are elected by the membership of the Federation at the annual general meeting (AGM), following open recruitment, led by the nominations committee which then seeks agreement from the board. David Orr sits on the board as Federation chief executive.

Matthew Taylor Ann Santry Paul Tennant June Barnes

Sinead Butters Matthew Gardiner Mick Kent David Orr

Terry Stacy MBE Victoria Stark CBE Lindsey Williams Peter Williams

6 Annual report 2010/11 Leadership team The business plan for 2010/11

The Federation leadership team has four The 2010/11 business plan – which was agreed by the members and is led by chief executive David Orr. board – was based around six pillars, or priority areas: It ensures the strategic direction set by the board • Helping members to provide better access to is implemented effectively, as well as making homes and services decisions on policy and business effectiveness. The leadership team also ensures the effective • Assisting members to provide excellent services management and leadership of Federation staff. for vulnerable and older people • Supporting members to deliver better homes David Orr and neighbourhoods Chief executive Simon Charlick • Helping members to deliver greener homes and neighbourhoods Director of operations Ruth Davison • Ensuring the right capital and revenue income Director of campaigns and neighbourhoods streams for members, and Elaine Walder • Improving our value for money offer to members. Director of commercial services Other corporate priorities during 2010/11 were: • What We Are Proud Of Awards • Running informative conferences • Providing first-class training • Publishing authoritative books • Providing excellent meeting facilities in central London. The board’s role Throughout 2010/11, the board monitored the David Orr Simon Charlick implementation of the business plan it had agreed the previous year, and ensured that the Federation delivered on its projected outcomes and impacts. At regular intervals the board asked whether the work was still worthwhile and viable, whether risks were being addressed, milestones met, and whether the organisation was having the desired impact. From time to time it required that changes be made to reflect changing circumstances. The board’s clear expectation was that each workstream would deliver a set of outcomes that would have a Ruth Davison Elaine Walder significant impact for members.

Annual report 2010/11 7 Delivering the business plan for 2010/11

Helping members to provide better access to homes and services

Reforming allocations through the secured wall-to-wall coverage in the national and Mobility Taskforce regional media, including coverage on BBC1 News, the Today programme and Radio 2, as well as items We persuaded ministers to reform allocations to in newspapers such as The Sun and the Financial boost mobility for existing tenants in the social Times. By the end of 2010/11, My Home Finance, housing sector through the Localism Bill. This was supported by 20 local housing associations, had achieved after we set out our ideas on the reform of issued just under 3,000 loans to those on low allocations in the report of the Mobility Taskforce, incomes, with around 45% of customers opening a chaired by our chief executive David Orr after an savings account. invitation from Grant Shapps who was then Shadow Housing Minister. ‘Shhh, don’t mention the housing crisis!’ My Home Finance Faced with the spectre of huge cuts to the housebuilding budget, we launched a high-profile The West Midlands pilot of the affordable credit campaign entitled ‘Shhh, don’t mention the housing scheme My Home Finance was launched at the crisis!’ – with the aim of persuading the Government Federation’s 2010 annual conference in a set- to safeguard the provision of social rented and piece speech by Work and Pensions Secretary affordable housing. The campaign led to massive Iain Duncan Smith. The unveiling of the scheme media coverage of the threats to the delivery of social housing – including two national newspaper front page splashes, one in the Guardian and one in the Observer. The campaign also led to two well- attended meetings at Westminster – one for Labour “...when it comes to the MPs and one for coalition party MPs – at which we set out exactly what the threats to the sector representations that the were. As a result of our work, an Early Day Motion National Housing Federation was tabled commending the campaign’s aims, which was signed by more than 100 MPs, including is making about the essential Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Simon Hughes, contribution that housing government policy tsar Frank Field, and Liberal Democrat backbench MP Bob Russell. On Budget makes to good health, [it] is Day in June last year, we held a photo opportunity absolutely right. ” in Westminster – which was covered by a number of media outlets, including Iranian television! We Health Minister Paul Burstow also took the unusual step of putting up a campaign poster at Westminster tube station. The poster was positioned near the MPs’ entrance to Parliament and was even quoted during a parliamentary debate.

8 Annual report 2010/11 Assisting members to provide excellent services for vulnerable and older people

Demonstrating the link between decent Breaking the mould housing and good health Our Breaking the mould report was launched at a We worked with the Department of Health to ensure parliamentary reception, hosted by Heidi Alexander that housing and housing-related support were MP. The publication describes the opportunities an recognised as key determinants of good health. ageing population provides housing associations. Following our lobbying, the Government’s public Accompanied by a film, it argues that associations health white paper highlighted the role that housing should build larger, more accessible flats and has in preventing social isolation and improving houses which are attractive to older owner the quality of people’s living environments. In order occupiers who want to move to an easier-to-manage to give housing associations the tools required to home, but are not attracted to traditional models navigate local health commissioning, we launched of older people’s housing. The report also offered the report, Housing for health: worlds aligned. examples of how care, support and other practical Meanwhile, as the Health and Social Care Bill made services such as handyperson or ‘help at home’ its way through Parliament, we lobbied MPs about services can be developed and offered to all older the need to ensure that the new health landscape people in all types of tenure, including people who recognised the key role housing and support would pay for such a service from a trusted provider. services play in meeting good health outcomes. The report was part of a broader drive to enhance During the committee stage, MPs tabled two of our the housing options available to people in later life amendments. In the end these were not debated. and to ‘break the mould’ of older people’s housing. However, Health Minister Paul Burstow said, in the House of Commons: “I am more than happy to confirm that when it comes to the representations that the National Housing Federation is making about the essential contribution that housing makes to good health, [it] is absolutely right. We do David Orr, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and CHS chief not disagree with that contention in any way.” executive Nigel Howlett

Annual report 2010/11 9 Our Breaking the mould report was part of a drive to enhance the housing options available to older people

Supporting housing associations in the figure. As a result, the Federation worked with transition to personalised funding members up and down the country in an attempt to persuade councils not to cut Supporting People To help members engage with the emerging funding by disproportionate amounts, closely personalisation agenda, we ran free regional events monitoring local decisions as they were made. In on health, housing and personalisation with Sitra, addition, we generated substantial national and which champions excellence in housing, support regional media coverage, with major items in the and care. Meanwhile, to ensure the Government Guardian, the Daily Mirror and on the BBC website, understands the crucial role housing plays in highlighting the damage the cuts would make to supporting good health we worked with the vital services. We also published a joint letter in the government’s Putting People First programme, Daily Telegraph with Housing Minister Grant Shapps, which led on the development of the new approach urging local authorities not to cut services by more to personalisation. We also worked with the Think than 12% over the current spending period. Our Local, Act Personal partnership, which brought lobbying and campaign work helped convince some together local and national government, service councils to moderate the cutbacks they made. providers and other stakeholders. In addition, we And following our work, the Department for facilitated engagement between members and the Communities and Local Government (CLG) decided programme for disabled people, Right To Control, to consult on revised statutory guidance on Best in order to ensure that the officials working on this Value for local authorities. The aim of the new project understood the link between decent housing advice was to tighten up statutory guidance on good and good health. practice of funding and commissioning of voluntary Protecting Supporting People services and community organisations, with the new wording stressing the importance of the early notification of Following our call on ministers to protect the funding cuts, and of the need for genuine consultation over of Supporting People services, the Chancellor alternative options. announced he was cutting the programme by 12% in real terms up to March 2015 – which was well Promoting supported housing below the average level of cuts made to other public We worked with members across the country to spending programmes. However, while the reduction run Supported Housing Month initiatives in every in spending was relatively low, because the funding region. Over the period, around 400 events were of housing-related support was to be channelled staged nationwide – all with the aim of raising through the formula grant, and was no longer ring- awareness among councillors and stakeholders of fenced, local authorities were free to reduce the the services that support vulnerable people. amount spent locally by an even higher percentage

10 Annual report 2010/11 Supporting members to deliver better homes and neighbourhoods

Promoting independence through political the new Community Right to Build to be set at a engagement realistic level. We also called for the New Homes Bonus not to promote the building of expensive Following the May 2010 General Election, we executive homes at the expense of affordable provided housing associations with advice on how housing. In addition, we argued that through the to engage with politicians, with each member Local Plans, councils should be compelled to receiving the Making the connection booklet. In the include a robust assessment of housing need and months that followed the poll, more than half of have an obligation to plan to meet that need. We the nation’s newly elected MPs visited a housing also made the case that a presumption in favour association to see the vital work being done. In of sustainable development should be included order to promote understanding in Westminster in the Localism Bill or National Planning Policy of the sector’s role, we also hosted a number of Framework. well-attended parliamentary receptions, including one that specifically addressed the work of housing We worked closely with MPs to table many of associations. To further enhance understanding of our amendments to the Localism Bill. One of the sector at the House of Commons, we conducted our amendments was aimed at making sure the two days of training for members of staff from MPs’ new Neighbourhood Plans could not be used offices – with 60 people attending. unreasonably to prevent development. We also persuaded the Government to retain affordable Promoting an effective planning housing’s exemption from the Community framework Infrastructure Levy. After the Government dismantled the old system within days of taking office, we led the sector in Minister Greg Clark spoke at our Localism Bill conference highlighting the need for an effective new planning system. In meetings with ministers, and in evidence to the CLG Select Committee, we showed how the decision to dismantle the old Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs) and housebuilding targets, without the installation of a new planning infrastructure, had badly damaged the ability of members to deliver new homes. To add weight to our case, we highlighted the issue through the national and regional media, with Federation-commissioned research showing that up to 300,000 homes in the pipeline would be axed by local authorities across England following the revocation of the RSSs. After that, we worked closely with the Government to shape the emerging localist planning system – calling for the new Local Economic Partnerships (LEPs) to have a strategic housing and planning role, and for the threshold of local support required to allow housing developments to proceed under

Annual report 2010/11 11 Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith at the Federation’s annual conference

‘Save our villages’ campaign Securing funding for new jobs Through meetings with rural councils across the We secured an additional £3m to fund 500 jobs country and the generation of national and regional being delivered by housing associations through the media coverage, we continued to persuade local Future Jobs Fund in a new partnership with 3SC authorities to sign up to our campaign for more (Third Sector Consortia Management). This helped rural housing. Supportive news items were run in position associations as potential suppliers and newspapers such as the Daily Mail and News of the employers for the new Work Programme. World, as well as on BBC1’s Countryfile and Radio 4. By the end of 2010/11, a total of 36 of the most Helping deliver greener rural authorities had signed up to the campaign. homes and neighbourhoods Highlighting housing need through Home truths Securing funding for renewable energy We used our annual national and regional Home and energy efficiency truths reports to highlight the extent of the housing We successfully lobbied for feed-in tariff rates to crisis and the role that members play in helping be protected, enabling continued investment in to tackle it. Much of the coverage concentrated on solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. We also supported a forecast in the national publication that people members in accessing the £100m of EU funding for who bought at the height of the housing boom in greening existing homes in the UK, made available 2007 would face another four years of negative following a change in European legislation. In equity. The national launch led to Federation chief addition, we pressed the Government to amend the executive David Orr being interviewed on the Today Energy Bill so that: programme, BBC1 Breakfast News, Radio 5 Live and Radio 2. The story was also covered extensively • Funding is equally available to all potential on Radio 1’s Chris Moyles Show, the BBC website, Green Deal providers, including housing GMTV and Sky News – and was followed up by associations a range of other media outlets, including the • An assessment method is established that Financial Times, Daily Mail and Daily Express. reliably estimates fuel bill savings, and The nine regional reports also went on to secure substantial media coverage throughout England. • Neither tenants nor landlords are unreasonably Each MP was sent a copy of the national report and able to obstruct work that would make blocks of their relevant regional report. flats more energy efficient.

12 Annual report 2010/11 Ensuring the right mix of capital and revenue income streams for members

Making a submission to the by representatives of 90 housing associations. Comprehensive Spending Review We reinforced our arguments through high level meetings with senior civil servants and through We led the housing sector’s submission to the the generation of high profile national and regional Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), for the media coverage. On the day of the Chancellor’s period April 2011-March 2015, through an early CSR speech – in which he announced the arrival joint bid with the Chartered Institute for Housing of the new investment framework – the Federation and National Federation of ALMOs. The bid called was quoted on a range of outlets including BBC on the Government to: News at 10, ITV and the Today programme. We were • Safeguard the Supporting People programme also quoted in various newspapers such as the Guardian, Telegraph and Daily Mail. • Invest £165m per year in Disabled Facilities Grants While we were disappointed by the decision to • Invest £9.5bn of public money to support the cut the housebuilding budget by 63%, there were building of 150,000 affordable homes a number elements within the announcement • Continue to invest £1bn of housing investment with which we were pleased – for instance, the a year to support economic and labour market Government’s recognition that 150,000 was the restructuring, and right number of affordable homes to build up to March 2015 and the decision to spend £200m • Provide £200m a year to help households facing on the mortgage rescue scheme, as well as the repossession. decision to apply minimal cuts to the Supporting The bid was informed by a number of member People budget. engagement events across the country, attended

Federation initiative Photo caption to appear here This mayNeighbourhoods run to several linesGreen and will be staggered to edge ofchampions image the importance of green space for residents (image courtesy of Wakefield and District Housing)

Annual report 2010/11 13 • The existing formula for annual rent increases in social rented housing (RPI +/ 0.5% +/ or -/ £2 a week) would continue until March 2015 • Greater flexibility would be granted around contracts, with no requirement for all the detail of contracts to be signed in 2011 • Local authorities would play a key role in working with housing associations and the HCA in agreeing investment plans – but would not unilaterally be able to veto them • There was an acknowledgement that, under the new programme, there would be a continued and significant role for low cost home ownership • There would be flexibility to convert relets to shared ownership as well as to near market rents • Providers would have the flexibility to determine the type of tenancy they wished to offer, Housing Minister Grant Shapps speaking at our 2010 annual conference including the option to continue offering long- term tenancies and lifetime tenancies Shaping the new investment framework • Money raised in a local authority area would Following the Government’s announcement in the not have to be spent specifically in that local CSR of a new funding model for affordable housing, authority area, and we engaged closely with CLG and the Homes and • There was an explicit recognition that delivery of Communities Agency (HCA) to help shape the detail supported housing and housing for older people of the new framework. In January, we published remained a priority. a paper entitled Radical reform, real flexibility, in which we made a number of recommendations However, the Federation still believed that there through which we believed delivery under the new were a number of negative points in the new programme could be maximised, and the negative investment framework, particularly in that it did not impact on our members’ business models could give housing associations the freedom they need to be minimised. When ministers finally published maximise delivery of new homes. the details of the programme, they confirmed that, following our lobbying:

14 Annual report 2010/11 Shaping welfare reform proposal to cut housing benefit for those tenants deemed to be under-occupying their social homes, We ran a high profile campaign of lobbying and with the Federation being quoted on the front page campaigning to press ministers to reconsider of the Daily Mirror. We also called on ministers to various aspects of the welfare reform programme. allow social housing tenants to be able to continue We were concerned that the totality of the to have their housing benefit paid direct to their Government’s proposals to cut housing benefit landlords, and expressed grave concerns about the would leave 1.3m people across the social housing proposed overall benefits cap of £26,000 for each and private rented sectors at risk of being forced family per year. into hardship and poverty, with many in danger of losing their homes. We raised the issue with a range of senior politicians including Chief Secretary Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander to the Treasury Danny Alexander, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat backbencher Bob Russell and then Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Douglas Alexander. We also generated substantial national and regional media coverage on the issue, being quoted by many leading commentators including Polly Toynbee in the Guardian, Rachel Sylvester in the Times, Mary Riddell in the Telegraph and Johann Hari in the Independent. While much of the Government’s programme, such as introducing housing benefit caps for certain size properties and pegging housing benefit payments to the lowest rates in the private rented sector, went through unchanged, we secured a major coup when we helped persuade ministers to drop their proposal to cut housing benefit by 10% for unemployed people. The decision was announced in March, followed the tabling of an Early Day Motion in support of the Federation’s campaign – which was sponsored by, among others, Liberal Democrat MPs Bob Russell and Jenny Willott. On the day the Bill was published, we turned its focus onto the

Annual report 2010/11 15 Ensuring light-touch regulation Making a difference We convinced the Government of the importance Our recent membership survey 2011 showed that of ensuring that effective, independent regulation more members than ever before are satisfied with is maintained with a focus on financial, viability and the services we provide and think these represent governance matters – and we influenced the proposals good value for money. for a backstop consumer regulatory function. Securing more flexible use of National ...69% Affordable Housing Programme funding of members believe the Federation Prior to the Chancellor’s CSR announcement, we represents ‘good value for money’ – up from persuaded ministers to allow more flexible use of 56% two years ago £100m of National Affordable Housing Programme funds to enable housing associations to bring ...83% empty homes back into use. of members believe the Federation is an Securing gap funding payments ‘effective source of advice’ – up from 77% two years ago, and We persuaded the Government to make provision to continue gap funding payments for stock transfer ...93% associations until at least March 2015. Promoting the mortgage rescue scheme of members believe the Federation is ‘proactive in shaping policies and initiatives which will We persuaded the Government to provide £200m benefit the sector’. to enable the mortgage rescue scheme to continue during the next spending period. Facing the future: evolution or revolution We published the book Facing the future: evolution or revolution – which was our contribution to the debate on how to deliver more affordable homes in a radically changed world. The publication reviewed the likely development environment for the next few years, identified and commented on some of the key challenges this presents, and, in the final section, proposed some responses that associations might choose.

16 Annual report 2010/11 Improving our offer to members

Providing value for money We also established a new partnership with the Guardian Jobs website – to help save members Ensuring value for money is our number one money on their recruitment. By the end of March, priority – and to gauge our members’ views the scheme had saved housing associations around we commissioned the latest in the series of £100,000. The Federation also helped members independent biennial surveys. The survey, which save more than £10.5m through their membership questioned a quarter of our members between 9 of Procurement for Housing. Meanwhile, December and 17 January, found that 69% believe HouseMark had another successful year – helping we represent ‘good value for money’, up from 56% members improve performance and achieve value in the last such survey. The research also showed for money. that 93% of members believe we are ‘proactive in shaping policies and initiatives which will benefit In February, we sent improved value for money the sector’. statements to all members – in which we explained the added value we had achieved for members While we were pleased to see that the results were during 2010. going in the right direction we were clear that a membership organisation must always strive to provide a better service in the most economical manner. Therefore in February, we announced a package of measures designed to improve service delivery, streamline the business and reduce internal costs by up to £500,000. Through a leaner, more efficient structure we were able to reduce our We launched our new website in April 2011 overall staff complement by 7%, while at the same time bringing key regional staff into the heart of our internal decision-making process. During the year, we launched a very well-received new corporate website – which can be visited at www.housing.org.uk, continued to send members copies of our chief executive’s quarterly report, and enhanced our national and regional e-bulletins. At the same time, we continued to raise the standard of our member magazine, the Bulletin, and launched a range of Twitter accounts, including our primary Twitter channel: @natfednews – which had almost 1,000 followers by the end of March.

Annual report 2010/11 17 Other priorities in 2010/11

What We Are Proud Of Awards Providing excellent training We promoted the vital community work of our We ran 99 training courses, attended by 700 members through running the What We Are Proud delegates, and delivered a further 200 days of Of Awards, which attracted almost 200 entries. Twin tailored training at our members’ offices, helping Valley Homes was eventually named as the overall them enhance the skills of their staff. national winner with its project, Reducing Health Publishing authoritative books Inequalities. We have run the What We Are Proud Of Awards events again this year in every region, We sold more than 11,000 books. Our three best with the national winner set to be announced at sellers were Excellence in standards of conduct: code this year’s annual conference and showcased for members, Excellence in governance: code for in 24Housing magazine. The awards again are members and good practice guidance, and Statement sponsored by Morrison. of Recommended Practice (SORP): update 2010. Running informative conferences Providing excellent meeting facilities We ran 34 national conferences on issues of We provided meeting and video conferencing major importance to housing association staff facilities for over 19,000 customers at our Lion and their boards, attended by more than 10,000 Court Conference Centre in central London. delegates. With top level speakers including Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith and Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark, 90% of delegates said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the event they attended. What We Are Proud Of Awards 2010 winners Twin Valley Homes

18 Annual report 2010/11 Looking to the future – the business plan for 2011/12

With the Government looking to further roll out its Stephen Dorrell radical reform of the housing agenda, the Federation MP spoke at our has put together a business plan for 2011/12 Housing Care and that aims to ensure that the interests of housing Support conference associations are at the centre of the debate. The business plan for 2011/12 was developed with and agreed by the board – after it met with the regional chairs’ group. The key elements of the business plan are: • Supporting the sector on new accounting standards • Shaping welfare reform • Influencing the new investment framework • Promoting services for vulnerable and older people • Shaping the localism and Big Society agenda • Helping members deliver green homes covenant breaches and reducing access to cheap • Protecting the independence of the sector, and finance to fund new homes.) • Engaging with decision-makers. • Persuaded the Government to look again at its proposal to cut housing benefit for those Having spoken with members, the board believes tenants deemed to be under-occupying their that these eight major areas are the key issues social homes who are disabled and have had that the Federation needs to address in order to significant adaptations made to their properties secure the best possible operating environment for housing associations. • Influenced Labour MP Willie Bain to raise at Prime Minister’s Questions the issue of the After five and a half months, we have already proposed housing benefit cuts for those deemed secured some major achievements, having: to be under-occupying their homes • Persuaded the Accounting Standards Board • Helped persuade ministers to consider (ASB) chair to pledge not to implement the new transitionary protection from the proposed International Financial Reporting Standards in a overall benefits cap of £26,000 for each family way that wipes billions of pounds from housing per year association balance sheet asset and reserve totals. (This is what would have happened under • Persuaded Lord Freud to set up a working group, the ASB’s original proposals – which would have with housing association representation, to led to violent fluctuations in reported surpluses, assess the importance of ensuring that tenants in turn leading to accounting inconsistencies are able to continue to have their housing benefit among associations, threatening possible bank paid direct to their landlords

Annual report 2010/11 19 Shadow health • Helped persuade ministers to ensure that secretary John the National Planning Policy Framework Healey spoke at our Housing Care contains a presumption in favour of sustainable and Support development conference • Persuaded the Government to promise that through the Energy Bill an assessment method will be established that reliably estimates fuel bill savings, and that under the Green Deal neither tenants nor landlords will be able unreasonably to block work being carried out to make existing homes energy efficient • Met with key ministers including Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne and Communities • Persuaded the HCA to review key terms in the Secretary Eric Pickles contract issued under the new investment • Engaged with leading members of the opposition framework including Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, Shadow • Persuaded the HCA to amend the contract so Health Secretary John Healey, Shadow Work that it recognises that housing associations are and Pensions Secretary Douglas Alexander and independent businesses that should have the Shadow Housing Minister Alison Seabeck freedom to manage their assets as they choose • Persuaded HM Revenue and Customs to drop a • Persuaded the HCA to amend the contract so proposal to seek to include VAT on professional that associations can continue to invest their services in design and build contracts – saving resources in s106 developments if they housing associations £108m in the period up to so choose March 2015 • Persuaded almost 600 councillors to sign a joint • Persuaded HM Revenue and Customs to issue letter – published in The Times – calling for a consultation on a range of proposals which minimal cuts to Supporting People services could help housing associations save millions of pounds, by exempting them from a 20% VAT • Persuaded ministers to make a statement charge on their shared costs when they share recognising the essential contribution that services, and decent housing makes to good health • Achieved a 100% satisfaction rating from • Persuaded the Government to amend the delegates attending our Housing Care and Localism Bill to remove legal obstacles that Support conference in July, where the speakers would have affected associations choosing to included Shadow Health Secretary John Healey use fixed-term tenancies and Chair of the Health Select Committee Stephen Dorrell.

20 Annual report 2010/11 Board Accountability and accountability engagement

Annual general meeting For more information on any of the below visit our new website at www.housing.org.uk. The Federation’s main mechanism for accountability by the board to its members is the annual general Communicating with members meeting at the annual conference. The AGM gives We keep you up to date with our work through members the opportunity to hear from the chair a range of media, such as the Federation News and chief executive about how the organisation has e-bulletin, which is sent each month to more than performed during the year, both in the work carried 8,000 people in the sector. out on behalf of members and financially. The AGM provides members with an opportunity to raise Harnessing your expertise resolutions as well as voting on those on the agenda. We harness your expertise through a number of Regional chairs’ group means, such as our 100 or so practitioner groups operating around the country. The regional chairs’ group is made up of the chairs of each of the regional committees. It Seeking your feedback creates a bridge between members and the formal governance of the Federation. Each regional We seek your views in a number of ways, such as committee provides a two-way channel for member face-to-face visits with you at your organisation. engagement, which will feed through to the regional Facilitating liaison with key stakeholders chairs’ group and then to the board. We facilitate liaison between you and key The regional chairs’ group reports to the AGM on the stakeholders through a range of platforms, such as extent to which it and the membership have been our seminars and conferences. engaged in business planning and delivery, and had appropriate access to the Federation’s chair and Engaging with our members chief executive. If you think there is more we can do to engage North West effectively with our members, please contact our Ian Munro, New Charter Housing Trust (chair) member communications manager Rebecca North East Trowbridge at [email protected]. Cath Purdy, Vela Group If you feel our level service has fallen short of what Yorkshire and Humberside you would expect please contact either Rebecca Tom Miskell, Together Housing Group or our head of governance and company secretary South West Stephen Bull at [email protected]. David Ashmore, Green Square Group South East Geeta Nanda, Thames Valley Housing Association London Sara Thakkar, Wandle Housing Association East Midlands Julie Doyle, Spire Homes West Midlands (acting chair) Sarah Boden, Severnside Housing East of England Mark Powell Davies, Colne Housing Society

Annual report 2010/11 21 Financial summary 2010/11

In response to the tough economic and operating commercial activities was reduced as a result of the environments, the Federation carried out an difficult economic climate, but rigorous attention to organisational restructure. This resulted in costs meant that net income remained at the same additional costs, but will provide savings in future level as the previous year. years. This streamlining has reduced the overall cost The Federation is currently undertaking a business base but enhanced service delivery to members. strategy review, to ensure that it provides the Affiliation fees were frozen for 2010/11. However, service that housing associations will need in the fee income was marginally down as a result of future, whilst delivering maximum value for money. housing association mergers. Gross income from

Consolidated income and expenditure account, year end 31 March 2011

Income Actual (£) Affiliation fees 8,320,955 Lion Court 735,799 Other income 163,208 Conference, training and publications 4,595,194 Net joint venture 129,495 Total 13,944,651

Expenditure Actual (£) Communications, campaigning, policy and 2,887,065 lobbying Regional support 2,695,385 Commercial activities 2,934,055 Corporate support services 3,445,230 NHF Property & Services Limited 2,393,765 Total 14,355,500

22 Annual report 2010/11 Income for year to 31 March 2011 Expenditure for year to 31 March 2011

Communications, NHF Property & Conferences, campaigning and Services Limited Lion Court Training and lobbying 20.1% 16.7% 5.3% Publications 32.9%

Other Affiliation income Regional Corporate fees 1.2% support support 59.7% Net joint 18.8% Commercial services venture activities 24% 0.9% 20.4%

Feedback on the annual report We value the feedback of our members. If you have any thoughts or comments on this year’s report please contact head of governance and company secretary Stephen Bull at [email protected].

Annual report 2010/11 23 Visit our website: www.housing.org.uk

We launched our new website in 2011. With more dynamic, interactive features, it’s easier than ever to use and find the information you need.

• Download free briefings, reports and consultations • Keep up to date with the latest changes in the social housing sector • Book on to the latest conferences, events and training courses The new website is much • Follow monthly blog from chief easier to use. I was able to find executive David Orr everything from policy to news and publications first time. Register today to access member-only content. Sign up Karen Wilson, Chief executive, to our free monthly newsletters Origin Housing and Bulletin publication.

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