Horsing around in the gossip paddock
Whither Provan?
I couldn't help noticing that Supporting People seems to be stalking Bert Provan, who was recently crowned head of short research projects at the Social Exclusion Unit. Provan doubtless thought he had escaped responsibility for one of government's most horrendously complicated pet projects when he left the ODPM just after Christmas, leaving Supporting People in the capable hands of Wendy Jarvis. But mere months after his move, Supporting People – as well as the entire Homelessness Directorate – is to join the Social Exclusion Unit. Better luck next time, Bert.

Spk your mind, why don't you
Meanwhile on the ODPM's Supporting People website, www.spkweb.org.uk, passions were running high this week after a report on the scheme suggested councils trim their Supporting People spending by around £45m.

One contributor to the website let rip quite a tirade against the report but it backfired when, surprisingly, it failed to endear them to the other users. Other subscribers to the website took turns in berating the hapless individual: one, who obviously recognised the contributor, said they had been a "pain in the ass since Supporting People began" and suggested they "sod off". Sadly, the webmaster stopped the fun before the adversaries could exchange more virtual blows.

Splashdown in Sheffield
Not content with turning round the fortunes of Liverpool and Manchester, developer Urban Splash is venturing ever further afield. I've heard a rumour that founder and head honcho Tom Bloxham is looking to add Sheffield's notorious Park Hill estate to the list of the Splash's glorious conquests.

English Partnerships has put £500,000 into investigating the £40m regeneration of the 1000-home, 1960s monolith that dominates the city's skyline, and the council hopes to put an advert for developers in March.

Bloxham will have his work cut out more than ever with this scheme – the unique grade II*-listed building has been dubbed one of the most unpopular in Britain.

It's a Brum steer
It's decision time for Birmingham council: will it patch things up with David Thompson, its housing director in exile, or plump for a new face for what must be one of the most challenging jobs in housing?

Thompson was seconded to the Local Government Association last August for a six-month stint that has now just about run its course. Time is also almost up for David Hucker and Michael Irvine, drafted into Brum on temporary contracts to sort out the mess of a second zero-star inspection in two years. Who'll be staying? Who'll go?

I understand we'll find out in the very near future. Watch this space …

Quite the disadvantage

The department for disadvantage? The disadvantage delivery unit? These are just two of the rumoured monikers doing the rounds for Joe Montgomery’s revamped neighbourhood renewal unit at the ODPM. Perhaps this is all part of the masterplan to shake down the civil service and have a department dedicated to helping rehabilitate some of the 80,000 pen-pushers set for the chop?

Source

Housing Today