What is ARCH?
The Association of Retained Council Housing was set up for councils whose tenants have chosen the local authority as their landlord. ARCH brings councils who own and manage housing together to get the best deal for their tenants.
What does ARCH do?
- Promotes best practice
- Listens to the views of tenants
- Represents collective interests of stock retained councils nationally
- Lobbies for a fairer, clearer finance system to allow councils to provide affordable homes in a sustainable way
- Demonstrates the benefits of retained stock in meeting wider local and national priorities
ARCH annual report - download here
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ARCH POSITION STATEMENT ON THE MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
On Tuesday 30th June 2009, the Housing Minister, the Rt. Hon John Healey MP issued a written Ministerial Statement on the review of reform of the council housing finance system. Read ARCH's position statement here
ARCH WELCOMES BIGGER HOUSE-BUILDING ROLE FOR COUNCILS
The Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH) has welcomed signals that ministers appear to finally be listening to its calls for councils to have more opportunity to meet local housing needs. Read full press release here
COUNCILS READY TO EMBRACE LOCALISED HOUSING FINANCE, SAYS ARCH
ARCH has welcomed the Government’s commitment to replacing the defunct housing finance regime with a system that will give councils greater freedom to manage their own housing resources. Read full press release here
NEW HOUSING POWERS FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Announcements have been made providing resources to enable councils to build council houses, changes to allocations policies are planned and consultation on the future of the Housing Revenue Account. See the details in this briefing.
COUNCILS’ DEMANDS FOR HOUSING FINANCE OVERHAUL
ARCH has been part of the Local Government Association’s working party on housing finance alongside other organisations. In July 2008 ARCH supported the publication My Rent Went to Whitehall, which argued that reform of housing finance is essential to ensure that councils can deliver better services, better quality and additional housing for our residents.
ARCH has endorsed the LGA’s new publication Local Housing - Local Solutions: the case for self-determination, which contains proposals for reform of council housing finance, launched on 16th June at the CIH conference in Harrogate. This publication sets out a solution to allow councils to build 80,000- 90,000 new homes in the next five years and provide an investment of £35bn into the English economy.
Download Local Housing - Local Solutions: the case for self-determination
While supporting these ideas, ARCH has set out its own proposals for reform of the Housing Revenue Account system in specific detail in its submission to the Treasury and Communities and Local Government’s review.
Download ARCH submission to HRA review here
HUNGRY TO BUILD
£100 million will whet councils’ appetite to develop new homes, but a fairer finance system and more resources are needed to satisfy their craving… Comment piece on council building in this week’s Inside Housing by John Bibby, secretary of ARCH and director of housing and community services at Lincoln City Council. Read more
HCA PROPOSALS FOR COUNCIL NEW BUILD - LATEST BRIEFING
Read briefing here
COUNCIL TENANTS REVEAL TOP CONCERNS AT 2009 ARCH CONFERENCE
News report on ARCH annual tenants and residents conference on 24dash.com. Read more
REPORT ON ARCH TEANANTS' AND RESIDENTS’ CONFERENCE 2009
As housing moves higher up the political agenda than ever, involvement of people who live in council homes in shaping its future is crucial. ARCH Tenants’ and Residents’ Conference 2009 brought together some120 tenants and residents and officers at Birmingham City Football Club on 30th April to look at latest issues facing stock retained councils.
Read the conference report here
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