ADD386 GLA membership in the Housing Forum

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 authority 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 126 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 Forum is continuing to grow and over the last 18 months a number of local authorities have joined as paid members, including Birmingham City Council, Hull City Council, 14 local authorities in or around Kent and 10 local authorities in the Greater Manchester Area.

1.4 In early January 2016, the GLA was contacted by the Forum with a membership offer for a fee of £10,500 which will run from immediate effect until 31 March 2017. Under the terms of the proposal the GLA is able to share all of the membership benefits with any of the 33 local authorities in London who wish to participate. The package will give GLA and participating local authority officers full access to the working groups and forums.

Declarations

1.5 The Executive Director for Housing & Land is a Housing Forum Board observer but is not a member of the board nor does he take part in Board decision. As such, there is no conflict of interest in his role as observer. Furthermore, membership in the Forum is a decision that will be taken by the Assistant Director for Programme, Policy & Services and not the Executive Director.

Membership in the network is expected to have the following benefits for the GLA:

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 approach to housing delivery which in turn could improve both access and quality 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, as set out in the London Housing Strategy, to increase the number of well-designed 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 GLA membership. However, the administrative costs of advertising, invoicing and collecting the fees together with the lost benefit of the GLA being able lead on and define the relationship for London outweighed this benefit.

4.4 No impact assessments or consultations are required for this decision.

5.1 Approval is being sought for an expenditure of £10,500 for GLA to become a member of the Housing Forum, an independent cross-sector membership network for businesses, local authorities and non-profit organisations in the housing sector.

5.2 The proposed expenditure will be funded from the existing 2015/16 Housing Programme Cost Centre.