And it shows. The ideas contained in a letter to housing association chiefs have the hallmarks of an organisation desperate to get its own house in order before the in-laws move in. And rather than use the Audit Commission鈥檚 stars, the performance of RSLs will be marked red, amber, and green.
It all appears rushed and badly thought out. The traffic light model has a ring to it, but it鈥檚 a daft one. What鈥檚 a tenant, banker or MP meant to make of an 鈥渁mber鈥� grade? The letter is unclear whether new information will be used to grade RSLs or whether it is simply a matter of presentation. And there has been no consultation.
The Housing Corporation鈥檚 鈥榯raffic light鈥� assessment system has a ring to it, but it鈥檚 a daft one
Clearly, as they are getting more money from the government purse, housing associations are under the Treasury鈥檚 gaze like never before. If someone is going to get a big dollop of cash, they have to prove they deserve it. In contrast, the assessment summaries on the Housing Corporation website come loaded with caveats concerning their accuracy. That doesn鈥檛 inspire any great confidence. The corporation鈥檚 other new demand that associations validate the data they collect should at least ensure it鈥檚 not rubbish in and rubbish out, but it will be unpopular with those who have their forms to fill in.
That said, it鈥檚 hard to argue against when the the accuracy of the information is questionable. Housing associations have the right to ask whether the right data is collected, what it鈥檚 used for and why it takes so long to publish. These questions should form part of a more considered root-and-branch appraisal of assessment methods. Meanwhile, to borrow the corporation鈥檚 symbolism, the traffic light should be on red in Roy Irwin鈥檚 office.
Source
Housing Today
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