Written Statement - The Launch of Delivery Outcomes for Housing Associations in Wales

I would like to draw the attention of Members to ‘Delivery Outcomes: Developing a Modern Regulatory Framework for Housing Associations in Wales’ which I launched recently.

As part of the new approach to regulating Housing Associations, we are requiring Associations to undertake a robust Self Assessment each year that examines their own governance arrangements, financial viability and service delivery.  We are expecting that self assessment to be driven by the Board of the Association and have a strong focus on the outcomes for tenants and other service users.  Associations will also be expected to be able to evidence their conclusions effectively and make that evidence available to the Regulator.

To provide a framework for that Self Assessment, a suite of Delivery Outcomes have been prepared.  In essence they are a set of challenging intentions for the Association that they can test themselves against as part of their self assessment and will help them manage their organisation and stimulate improvement locally.

Whilst similar sets of outcomes exist for social housing providers elsewhere in the UK, these delivery outcomes are bespoke for Wales and reflect its unique policy context and sectoral circumstance.  They are purposely tenant focussed and allow for delivery against local needs.  Broadly speaking the outcomes can be split into two sets:-

• Governance and Finance
• Landlord Service

The first relate to how activities are supported and maintained and should be a fundamental way for social landlords to behave and conduct their business.  The Landlord Services Outcomes will ensure effective delivery of service activities, such as housing management, property maintenance and property development.

The Delivery Outcomes have been developed through extensive consultation with the sector, including tenants, in line with the collaborative approach I have taken through the Essex Programme.  I am pleased that we have been able to jointly brand these outcomes with Community Housing Cymru.  We are also discussing with local government the voluntary application of these delivery outcomes to housing support service planning.

Applying these Delivery Outcomes from 2010/11 will play a fundamental part of undertaking our new regulatory approach to Self Assessment.  It will ensure that the sector and supporting policy framework remain dynamic. These Delivery Outcomes will continue to be reviewed to ensure they are appropriate and delivering against the social housing needs of Wales.