ADD2112 GLA Housing Forum Membership 2017-18

1.1 The Housing Forum is an independent cross-sector membership network for businesses, local authorities and non-profit organisations in the housing sector. The aim of the Forum is to promote collaboration and to encourage improvements across all levels of the housing sector to build and maintain better homes for the future. This is done through informative and influencing networking activities which include working groups on various topics and CEO and local forums where delegates share experience taking new approaches to housing delivery.

1.2 The Housing Forum itself is non-political and does not lobby on behalf of any sectorial interest. The views and outputs delivered by the network on behalf of its members are the views of the Housing Forum and not attributed (unless expressly agreed) to any individual organisation. The network currently has 150 members including house building and stock holding organisations, professional services, manufacturers, local authorities and local enterprise partnerships. It is the only network with membership representing all levels of the housing delivery chain, including both private and public sector organisations, and currently includes a number of organisations that are delivering housing under one or more GLA programme.

1.3 The GLA joined the Housing Forum per ADD386 on 4 February 2016 at a cost of £10,500. Under its membership package, the GLA can share all its membership benefits with any of the 33 local authorities in London who wish to participate. This membership, however, expires on 31 March 2017. Were this to lapse, the GLA along with the local authorities participating through is package, would lose access to the working groups and network forums.

1.4 This decision seeks approval to renew the GLA’s membership package until 31 March 2018 for a cost of £10,950 + VAT. The benefits package will remain the same, including full access for the local authorities in London who wish to participate.

1.5 The Assistant Director – Housing is a member of the Housing Forum Board, this group guides the policy and practice of the organisation and allows the GLA to influence the direction of ongoing research and events. The GLA has no involvement in the management board of the Housing Forum, which makes operational and financial decisions for it.

2.2 The expected outcomes and benefits of renewing membership in the Forum are set out below:

3.1 The public sector equality duty requires the identification and evaluation of the likely potential impacts, both positive and negative, of the decision on those with protected characteristics (age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, gender, religion or belief, sexual orientation) and set out how you are addressing the duties). This decision is not likely to have any impact on individuals with protected characteristics; however, the work of the Housing Forum in general could lead to a better sharing of best practice and approaches to housing delivery which in turn could improve both access and quality of housing to those with protected characteristics.

4.1 There is no legal commitment associated with GLA membership; however, there is an expectation that the work of the Forum will be supported through involvement and contributions from appropriate senior level officers within the Housing & Land directorate. GLA involvement, however, will have a positive impact in creating additional forums in which GLA initiatives and priorities can be discussed and where the sharing of best approaches can be disseminated.

4.2 The work of the Housing Forum also directly supports the Mayor’s aims to increase the number of genuinely affordable new homes delivered across London each year.

4.3 Consideration was given to whether a portion of the fee should be passed on to the 33 local authorities who will have access to the Forum through the GLA’s membership package. However, the administrative costs of advertising, invoicing and collecting the fees together with the lost benefit of the GLA being able to lead on and define the relationship for London outweighs this benefit.

4.4 No impact assessments or consultations were carried out in relation to this decision.

5.1 This decision requests approval to spend £10,950 for GLA membership in the Housing Forum until 31 March 2018. This expenditure will be funded from Management and Consultancy budget within Housing & Land department and will incur in 2017/18 financial year.