NFA Conference: What a difference!

A couple of weeks ago I wrote that the annual CIH conference at Harrogate was a bit depressing: all very negative about the prospects for building and a general feeling of despondence.

What a difference the National Federation of ALMOs conference in Manchester was. Two days of real positive thinking and loads of examples of where ALMOs are making a real difference. I was most taken by the experiences of Barnet Homes (north London) and CityWest Homes (central London) who are branching out into the most exciting new areas of business. And I don’t say that just because I am an ex-Londoner!

CityWest Homes is providing a range of non-core services including new build development, stock acquisition including l50 ex-Right to Buy homes, a lettings agency and an estate agency. The latter is particularly valuable because of the very high number of leaseholders in Westminster.  

The most radical development is being planned in Barnet where the ALMO is planning to manage the Council’s adult social care services. The Council will create a trading company to which the existing ALMO and a new social care board will report.    

Both organisations are quick to point out that the ALMO needs a good degree of business acumen before it can embark on developing new services. There needs to be an excellent working relationship with the Council and a commitment to succeed.

Here in Wolverhampton, I don’t think taking on completely unconnected new functions is the answer. From managing over 23,000 homes we already have economies of scale and can already more than justify our overheads, which are top quartile value for money according to Housemark benchmarking.

What I think we need to do here is to take on additional services which would compliment and add value to our core tenant services. Not only would this minimise any risk to the day job but would also ensure that we don’t step outside our comfort zone and, more importantly, would allow us to enhance and improve existing services.

For example, to run tenancy support alongside housing management could reduce management costs and better target the service where it is needed most; or to run disabled adaptations for the private as well as the public sector could save costs. Another option would be extending our private sector leasing scheme to become a lettings agency could give local private landlords more choice and encourage more of them to let their homes through Homes in the City, helping to reduce the council housing waiting list.

Well done to all at the NFA – the conference certainly got the grey cells whirring!