Rochdale Agenda

11.00 – 11:30

Registration and refreshments

11.30 – 11:40

Welcome address

Tony Newman, Leader of Croydon Council (Chair of Housing Commission)

11:40 – 11:50

Morning presentation: Challenges for community-led housing, current levels of local authority support and recent developments

Nic Bliss Head of Policy, Confederation of Co-operative Housing

11.50 – 12.30

Table discussion 1

What are the challenges and barriers to the development of community-led housing schemes? To focus on:

• Challenges and barriers for the community led housing groups in engaging with/receiving support from councils
• Challenges and barriers for local authorities to engage with and support community-led housing projects

12.30 – 12.50

Plenary session with feedback

12.50 – 13.30

LUNCH

13:30 – 13:40

Afternoon presentation 1: A co-operative approach of working with communities on housing development

John Rooney, Head of Housing, Response Services and Districts, Oldham MBC

13.40 – 14:20

Table discussion 2

How have challenges and barriers been overcome? What opportunities are there for developing or supporting new schemes? To include:

• What policy responses or strategies can be adopted by councils to support or stimulate community led housing?
• Give examples of successful projects arising from positive council action (to be followed up as examples of good practice)

14:20 – 14:25

Afternoon presentation 2: Practical help: A Technical Toolkit for local authorities and housing associations to support community-led housing

Sally Thomas, Director of Communities, HACT

14:25 – 15:00

Table discussion 3

What should the products of the Housing Commission be?

• How should we support community leaders and councils to enable the development of new community-led schemes?
• What tools/materials/support would be of practical use to councils?

15:00 – 15:25

Plenary session with feedback

15:25 – 15:30

Next steps and close

Jamie Audsley, Deputy Cabinet Member for Economy & Jobs, Croydon Council