Up to a dozen high-profile housing professionals would give 'different perspective'
The Audit Commission is to invite high-profile housing figures to advise it on housing policy.

The commission, which has rapidly increased its housing responsibilities in recent months, will issue invitations to prospective candidates in the next two weeks.

Chief housing inspector Roy Irwin, interviewed in Housing Today this week, said the commission hoped to have 10-12 "high-profile people" signed up in time for meetings to begin later this year. There will be about "three to four" meetings each year.

Irwin added: "It's something we've been developing since last year, as part of our response to the wider responsibilities we've taken on over the past year."

In the past 12 months, the commission has taken over the inspection of housing associations from the Housing Corporation, agreed to monitor the renewal strategies developed by the nine housing market renewal pathfinders.

It has also taken on a role in policing the fledgling Supporting People care services funding regime, which began on 1 April.

Irwin said: "We want to make sure we're connected to the housing world in a relaxed way. The panel would have no mandate to instruct the commission, but would give different perspectives."

A source, who said the idea was a good one and admitted that he would be interested in participating, said the commission needed to improve its image in the sector.

He added: "If I was on the panel, one of the first things I would recommend is that the commission improves its self-publicity. There is some concern in the sector that it doesn't publicise the large amount of good work that it does. It should address this as soon as it can."

The housing policy panel will be chaired by one of the 18 commissioners. They are responsible for overseeing the work of the commission and ensuring that its services are effectively governed.

A similar body was trialled three-and-a-half years ago. Irwin said it had worked well but was always intended as a short-term measure.

Irwin added that the new panel had been delayed until now because the commission had wanted to ensure it had "its feet under the table" in terms of its new responsibilities.

Source

Housing Today