The Local Government Association has denied that housing is being moved down its agenda despite the sudden departure of its programme manager for housing this week.

David Thompson left on Tuesday and will not be replaced. The move emerged after his voicemail message was changed to inform people that he had gone.

But an LGA spokeswoman said: “It was always planned that David would leave now. We don’t feel having someone solely responsible for housing is the best way to work. To give the best housing policy output, the point is to be more flexible and to have specific projects that drive the agenda rather than to be purely reactive.”

Thompson, formerly director of housing at Birmingham council, said he would work as a consultant. “I have a number of opportunities but I cannot say with which authorities. I will carry on consulting for the LGA to taper out projects I am working on.”

Ruth Lucas, who has returned from secondment at the Local Government International Bureau in Brussels, and Chris Butcher will be the LGA’s primary contacts for housing policy.

Source

Housing Today