Ethos Public Relations Manchester

Emergency Budget 2010

by Ethos public relations

In response to the Emergency Budget, Gareth Swarbrick, Chief Executive of ALMO Rochdale Boroughwide Housing said:

“I would echo the comments made by Howard Farrand President of the CIH in his opening address at Harrogate.  It is very clear there is going to be pressure on housing benefit and reductions in grant funding for affordable housing.  This makes it imperative that we make best use of the affordable housing we have and show real creativity in how we work with tenants, local communities and employees to ensure we continue to deliver in difficult times.”

Posted at 22^nd June 2010

Emergency Budget 2010

by Ethos public relations

In response to the Emergency Budget, Mike Creamer Chief Executive of Contour Housing Group said:

"My initial reaction on capital expenditure was relief that there are to be no further cuts this year beyond those already announced. Having said that the North of England has already been disproportionately damaged by the £6.2bn cuts - HMR in particular is a regional cut.

"For future years, our concern must be that  government intends capital spending to be targeted at things that give the greatest economic return (transport was given as an example – more road and rail for London?).

"Northern housing providers needs to press our case even harder to demonstrate how much we contribute to northern economies – it may not figure large in the south, but it’s very important to a lot of people here!

"The main concern however is any threat to link housing benefit to CPI rather than RPI. It isn’t clear if the intention on benefit control will stretch this far, but if it does  it would  not only threaten the viability of some housing providers, but will further damage everyone's capacity to do things that government may no longer be able or willing to do for those who will be hurt most by the cuts."

Posted at 22^nd June 2010