Winner of the Academy Award for best gossip column
Gosh, um, how smashing
Social housing is sometimes accused of lacking glamour but charity Field Lane is about to change all that. In a move that will inject a little much-needed movie magic, its latest planned residential scheme will be built slap-bang in the middle of the location used in Notting Hill. The 24-hour supported scheme, due to open in February next year, will be built in the middle of Pembridge Square, Kensington & Chelsea – better known as the backdrop to Hugh and Julia's bashful courtship.

Roll out the red carpet
Sticking with the movieland glamour, readers based in north London mustn't miss the Camden Oscas. No, it's not a spelling mistake but the hilariously named Outstanding Service Camden Awards, to be held next Thursday. Sadly, Whoopi Goldberg and Steve Martin can't be there, but director of housing Neil Litherland has kindly agreed to make a rare appearance in the spotlight and present the awards. Couture houses wanting to lend him a frock should contact the town hall.

You've got mail
Wondering why your questionnaire for the latest Supporting People quiz hasn't arrived yet? Don't blame the Royal Mail.

In at least two areas, questionnaires were mailed without the full address – the envelopes said only "Supporting People Services Manager", an identification number, the town and postcode. But the mail must get through, and lateral thinking posties sent them to the councils' Supporting People departments instead.

Missing you already
Housing minister Keith Hill has quite a reputation for calling off meetings at the last minute. The latest lobbyists to fall foul of his ever-changing diary were some folk from the Northern Housing Consortium who wanted to convince him to do something about spiralling right-to-buy sales in the North.

It's more than my job's worth
Ask not what your regulator can do for you, but what you can do for your regulator: the Housing Corporation is looking for three new board members. For just four or five days' work a month, a salary of £11,000 could be yours plus the chance to "oversee a significant improvement in delivery across the sector," according to the job ad. Well, that's something to look forward to.

True to form
Social Animal is always anxious to keep the Home Office on its toes so, following the announcement of the Workers Registration Scheme for migrants from new EU states, I got on the phone and asked for a form. After four phone calls to different numbers and the discovery of a website that was still "under construction", a friendly mandarin promised me my form was in the post.

Two-and-a-half weeks later, it's now arrived.

Eligibility or bust

Last year Housing Today told you how the definition of eligibility for subsidised key-worker accommodation was being stretched to the limit, with PFI consultants, solicitors and actors qualifying. Still, you’d think that nurse turned porn channel presenter Abi Titmuss would still be outside the definition. Surprisingly, though, John Leslie’s ex still lives in one of Sunderland Housing Association’s key-worker homes. Perhaps she should give her landlord a few tips on getting its Titmusses out?

Source

Housing Today