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South West council’s ALMO survives review
A council on the South Coast has opted to keep its ALMO after considering bringing housing services back in-house.
Borough of Poole’s Conservative cabinet voted unanimously to keep Poole Housing Partnership (PHP), which manages its 5,000 council homes, at a meeting yesterday evening.
It approved a recommendation from the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the authority “resets its relationship” with the ALMO, rather than dissolves it.
A petition to protect PHP was signed by 350 residents last year after it emerged that Borough of Poole had commissioned housing consultancy Campbell Tickell to carry out a review of its housing services.
PHP will be asked to work more closely with the council’s “strategic priorities”, including through making cost savings. It will also undergo a governance review.
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Poole could merge with neighbouring Bournemouth Borough Council, which has in-house housing services, to form a new unitary authority as part of a local government reorganisation in Dorset from April 2019.
The pair also want Christchurch Borough Council – a non stock-retaining authority – to join them, but it has submitted alternative proposals to the government.
A referendum of Christchurch in December found that 84% opposed the merger.
Housing secretary Sajid Javid has previously said he is “minded” to approve the restructure, and the consultation on the matter is now closed.
If the merger goes ahead, Poole’s housing services will likely come under review again.
Karen Rampton, cabinet member for housing and community services, at the Borough of Poole, said: “The independent review highlighted the requirement for Poole Housing Partnership to work with the council to further develop strategic priorities for our communities.
“Cabinet unanimously supported the recommendations in the report and welcomed the opportunity to refresh the relationship between the two organisations.”
She added that the cabinet would be taking legal advice “as soon as possible” on introducing an earlier break clause to PHP’s contract than the current five years, as recommended by the scrutiny committee.
Su Spence, chief executive of PHP, said: “The outcome of this review reflected a continued confidence in the use of the arms’ length model but with a requirement to refresh and change the approach undertaken by both the ALMO and the council in setting and monitoring the strategic direction of the organisation.
“With a commitment on both sides to deliver, the strengths highlighted in the review can be harnessed to ensure that Poole residents receive the best outcomes possible within the resources available.”
Update: at 11.31am, 12/01/18: A quote from Karen Rampton was added to the story.
Update: at 9.59am, 15/01/18: A quote from Su Spence was added to the story.
