East to West without a rest!

Full Association meeting in Edinburgh's Dynamic Earth Centre, next door to the Scottish Parliament. We get a good turnout with in excess of 50 delegates attending and we have one of the best debates in years. Bad start to the day when I receive a parking ticket outside my hotel, despite the fact I have paid at the meter.

The topics and speakers are excellent, we have Dr Steve Griggs from INLOGOV talking along with Mark Bramah on Governance Neighbourhoods and Service Delivery, Dr Richard Williams giving us 10 top tips on tackling climate change on a practical basis, Neil McInroy of CLES on the Economic Footprint of Local Government. It was rather daunting to follow some top presentations but Pat Taggart and myself then covered Housing developments in England, Wales and Scotland.

For good measure I get next years budget and the 3 year Business Plan approved.

I then dash from East to West to attend Glasgow's Lord Provost's Burns Supper. One thing I love about Glasgow is they know how to put on excellent civic functions and this was one of the best. Kaye Adams was hosting the event and many stars entertained us over the course of the evening, being seated next to Fergus Chambers and the Prime Ministers brother John Brown also helped.

High expectations!

Held our one day policy seminar today in Manchester's Hilton Hotel - the tallest building in England outside of Canary Wharf. The Future of Local Government: Turning the strategic vision into front line service reality, was the title, and we had a good debate on the issues emerging.

Stuart Hoggan, Deputy-Director, Local Democracy at DCLG opened, setting the scene around devolution and autonomy, Marcial Boo, Head of Policy at the Audit Commission followed and gave the lowdown on the new performance framework. Both got some interesting questions around CAA and how you ensured that your performance was not downgraded by your capacity (or not) to control your local partners. Or as I have describded it elsewhere 'Its like being a Circus Lion-tamer without the stool or whip.

The Council Leader at Trafford, Councillor Susan Williams, gave a speech and it was refreshing for someone not to use powerpoint and to speak from the heart. All in all it was a good event and I even got to go to the Clouds Lounge on the 23rd Floor, where you can walk on a transparent glass floor - okay for non-vertigo suffers.

After the event it was a mad dash to Edinburgh for the Full Association the next day.

Housing and Regeneration Bill

Took the train down to Parliament today to give evidence to the House of Commons Council Housing Group Inquiry into the Housing and Regeneration Bill. The event was chaired by Austin Mitchell MP and a significant number of other MPs participated over the course of the day, including Gerald Kaufmann.

I gave my evidence towards the end of the day, but from what I heard it seemed that there was unanimous disappointment that the current Housing and Regeneration Bill is a missed opportunity to tackle the current affordable housing crisis.

In APSEs view the best way of tackling the current and future shortages would be by ensuring that local authorities are given the key strategic and operational role in delivering supply. For this to occur there would need to be a neutrality in terms of funding for all authorities whether they transferred their stock, deliver it through an ALMO or retain it directly. This would allow authorities to manage, maintain and become involved in the long term building and supply of social housing.

If the 19b backlog of repairs in the late nineties was the overarching policy driver for social housing policy at the time then now it is the lack of affordable housing that takes priority. I pushed the following ideas for amendments to the Bill:

1 The creation of an investment allowance built into the national hra formula which enables local authorities to support new build, acquire new social housing and refurbish long term void properties.

2 Arrangements to be put in place that would permit local authorities to build a minimum of 10% themselves to contribute to area based regeneration and build construction skill through training opportunities.

3 A ratio created for partial write off of historic debt where local authorities and partners invest in new build schemes.

4 A review of Right to Buy for new build, acquired social housing and long term void properties.

I finished my evidence by saying that for those of us who have been involved in this debate over the last ten years I hope we achieve something worthwhile and lasting from the Housing and Regeneration Bill, if we don't it could be the end for the vast majority of local authority directly supplied housing. I think that would be hugely detrimental to society and therefore support a strong role for local authorities, not only in housing strategy, but in maintenance, management and new build.

Friends in the North!

Phil Brennan and myself caught the early flight to Belfast this morning to meet with NILGA and the Local Government Staff Commission to discuss an idea we have all been developing about launching best practice awards for local government in Northern Ireland. The meeting went well and we have identified 6 key bodies who will hopefully work towards a launch at the NILGA conference on 7 and 8 February in Derry.

In the afternoon we meet up with John Price and Angela Fitzpatrick from the DoE to discuss not only the awards but procurement and elected member development.

A useful day although the 5.30am start always drains me for a day or two afterwards.

Guardian and Custodians of Public Services

In London today to meet the Public Sector Editor of the Guardian, David Brindle, to discuss mutual opportunities. We chewed the fat and shared ideas and agreed a few opportunities to explore. David is going to provide us with some of his colleagues to chair sessions at some of our political fringe events and we are going to provide some opinions on key stories in public services.

Also took the opportunity to catch up with colleagues at UNISON and had a meeting with the General Secretary, Dave Prentis, with regard to a project we are working on for him. Also met with Heather Wakefield the Head of Local Government and we blasted over numerous topics ranging from housing to equal pay. It was a good chance to keep abreast of the endless list of issues that are bubbling along at present.