A government review of London’s political structure has concluded that the Greater London Authority should take over responsibility for funding the capital’s housing.

The Commission on Local Governance said responsibility should be passed from the Government Office for London to the GLA, which would be in a better position to “speak up for Londoners’ housing needs”.

At a commission meeting on 15 March – which was attended by London councils, the London Housing Federation and housing association Circle 33 – attendees were told “a more simplified housing structure is needed to decide where funds are distributed”.

The commission was set up by the Association of London Government and the London assembly.

Berwyn Kinsey, head of the London Housing Federation, said: “Responsibility for housing strategy is transferring from the Government Office for London to the GLA, so, to make it simpler, we think the GLA should also make decisions on the allocation of funding.”

Last year, the GLA said it was “frankly ridiculous” that it did not have responsibility for housing investment because the government was planning to give such powers to an elected North-east regional assembly (HT 15 October, page 10).

Hugh Malyan, chair of the commission, said: “A more simplified structure is needed to meet the needs of the capital’s diverse communities.”

Source

Housing Today