3. Working with Local Partners

The Council neither has the resources nor the power to address all the private sector housing needs of the district.

The Government’s view is that it is primarily the responsibility of homeowners to maintain their own properties but fully accepts that some homeowners, particularly the elderly and most vulnerable, do not have the necessary resources to keep their homes in good repair.

Local authorities therefore have an important role in providing assistance in these cases.

In order to deliver an effective housing renewal policy the Council will work with range of existing and new partners.

The new flexible power to give assistance contained in the new legislation will enable the Council to engage with new partners. Existing partnerships and the areas for development are summarised below.

3.1 Local authority partnerships

• Shropshire Housing and Grants Officer Group - comprising of grants and housing officers from each of the district/borough Councils in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Council. The group provides a forum for developing common policies, policy tools, and best practice in private sector housing work. Members also sit on the Shropshire Care and Repair (SCAR) steering group.
• Shropshire Housing Officer Group (SHOG) - dealing mainly with social housing issues, but recently extended its remit to include strategic private sector housing. The group employs a Housing Development Officer to promote joint working and develop new countywide initiatives.
• Supporting People Core Strategy Group and commissioning body responsible for the development implementation and monitoring of supporting people including commissioning and de-commissioning services.

3.2  Consultative partnerships

• SCAR Advisory Group, which comprises of grant and occupational health practitioners, clients and voluntary organisations, including Age Concern, the Arthritis Group, the MS Society etc. This group acts as the main stakeholder consultation mechanism on the quality of service provided by the agency.
• SCAR Steering Group, which oversees the performance of the agency and is responsible for service development.

3.3 Partnerships to address housing need

• There is close liaison and regular forums between the various Council sections, housing associations, private landlords, developers, social services, and support and advisory services in developing policies to meet local housing need. The Housing Renewal Policy has a pivotal role to play in improving and maintaining the housing stock across all private sector tenures.

• Partnership with 6 local Registered Social Landlords committed to the provision of Affordable and social rented properties

3.4 Health Alliances

• Shropshire Care and Repair Home Improvement Agency is supported by the District/Borough Councils in Shropshire, Social Services, and the PCT and provides services for elderly and disabled persons in Shropshire. It is proposed to extend the services offered to include a handy person scheme and to signpost clients to other support services.
• The Council is instigating projects with the PCT such as safety in the home, and the training/awareness raising of health professionals so that assistance can be targeted to vulnerable groups. Senior Safety events are organised annually with the PCT and other organisations. The events focus on safety in the home and also promote home security measures.

3.5 Financial Partnerships

• The wider range of financial assistance now available for housing renewal will necessitate future partnerships with lenders, specialist intermediaries, developers, housing associations and builders. The Council does not have the infrastructure or the resources to establish an "in-house" loan scheme.

• It is proposed to develop a scheme for loan assistance, including equity release, on a countywide basis with the other District/Borough Councils through SCAR and possibly involving one of the following - Home Improvement Trust, ART Homes, Anchor Staying Put and Just Credit Union. It is likely that each of the partner authorities will assist with finding a part-time post within SCAR to be a central point of contact on equity release enquiries.

3.6 Home Improvement Agencies

• The Council is a funding partner of SCAR, the countywide home improvement agency. There is the potential to further develop the services of SCAR as mentioned elsewhere in this document.

3.7 Energy Efficiency Partnerships

• The Council is a funding partner of the Shropshire, Herefordshire, North East and Central Staffordshire Energy Efficiency Advisory Centre and the Midlands Energy Efficiency Advisory Consortium. These agencies provide advice and signposting to grant aid for homeowners and also assist the Council with promotional and training activities. The Council is also a member of the Midlands Energy Efficiency Consortium committed to help develop a range of measures in our area on energy efficiency.

3.8 Maintenance and Home Improvement Partnerships

• Improved information and advice will be developed on home maintenance particularly following grant-aided works, to help ensure that homeowners maintain their properties. This could be developed in conjunction with the proposed handy person scheme with SCAR.

3.9 Partnerships with the Voluntary Sector

• Many private sector owners are not aware of their housing rights or are unsure of what assistance is available to help them maintain their homes. Close links are being developed with voluntary agencies such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and Age Concern to enable them to provide more informed advice on private sector housing issues and to direct enquiries to the Council if required.