Housing support is the main focus of this morning's meeting of the Senedd's Local Gov & Housing Committee @SeneddLGHousing
Cab Sec Jayne Bryant MS will be answering Qs about the Housing Support Grant and the drive to end homelessness.
Watch on senedd.tv 📺
Also - here's a link to Chair John Griffiths MS's article in Welsh Housing Quarterly, which takes a look at one of the recommendations rejected by the Welsh Gov:
tinyurl.com/ytf5hrrs
This Wednesday Senedd members will debate the Local Gov & Housing Committee report on how to increase social housing supply.
Ahead of the debate, I've written a piece summarising the report and the Welsh Gov's response:
tinyurl.com/bddr86r7
The Welsh Gov rejected a key recommendation in the @senedd.wales Local Gov & Housing Committee inquiry on social housing supply.
In this article, Chair John Griffiths MS explains why the Committee believes a Welsh development corporation would deliver more social homes:
tinyurl.com/ytf5hrrs
Housing share of government expenditure 2022-23:
England 1.8%
Wales 2.7% (note this is *all* gov expenditure not Welsh Gov)
Scotland 3.5%
N Ireland 4.3%
There are some figures in the CIH's UK Housing Review. They lag a few years back (the most recent stats I've seen are 2022-23). I think the challenge is clarity on devolved/non-devolved spending. The UK Housing Review figs are for all public spending not just Welsh Gov - I'll dig them out:
The Welsh Government proposes to spend 4.9% of its total budget on housing and regen in 2025-26.
This was mentioned by John Griffiths MS, Chair of the Senedd Local Gov & Housing Committee, during this AM’s scrutiny session with the Cab Sec. If you missed it, catch up here:
tinyurl.com/yc8r4854
The Welsh Government has confirmed that it will explore enabling renters to keep the last 2 months' rent as compensation when facing a no-fault eviction.
Ahead of this Wednesday's plenary debate, I've written this article on the Local Gov & Housing Committee report:
tinyurl.com/4w9kmbpz
My colleague Gwennan Hardy has written an excellent piece about the issue of pets in the private rented sector. Not a trivial matter! Actually has a huge impact on tenant wellbeing:
tinyurl.com/4z7prrbn
Interesting blog post by Prof Dave Cowan on what the Renters' Rights Bill means for Wales.
The Welsh Gov is using the Bill to outlaw discrimination against tenants with kids or claiming benefits. Senedd scrutiny is throwing up various issues, lucidly analysed here by Dave:
tinyurl.com/5h9hccf4
I’ve had council planning officers tell me in #Wales that they haven’t been able to check if planning regs have been met. Be it our statutory SuDs, protected trees, sites, or biodiversity net gain delivered.
What kills #nature our divorce from it, austerity, wealth disparity, & growth economics.
Best early Xmas present this morning - a follow from my number 1 childhood hero, @shakinstevens1.bsky.social !!
He's got a new album out (political content!) and working with the Salvation Army. Great to see Shaky fighting the good fight ✊
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There are lots of useful resources in the hyperlinks, if you want to dig deeper:
research.senedd.wales/research-art...
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It questions much of the way we're currently supporting people with complex needs to escape homelessness.
With a Welsh Homelessness Bill on the horizon, I'm hoping this will be a helpful resource to get people up to speed quickly.
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It's not quite as simple as 'what it says on the tin'.
It's not only about minimising stays in temporary accommodation, but also spells more fundamental changes for how the homelessness system supports people.
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I've written an article about rapid rehousing - explaining what it is, what progress has been made, and what will need to happen to make it a reality in Wales.
I'm often surprised at how many people in the housing sector don't really understand what rapid rehousing means.
I must say I'm loving this new blog by Prof Dave Cowan at Cardiff University, on Welsh housing law and policy.
Today's post is a well-considered take on the new Senedd Local Government and Housing Committee report on social housing supply.
More please Dave :)
tinyurl.com/3yc96xdc
#Senedd Starter Pack now updated with added @jacksargeantms.bsky.social @lynneneagle.bsky.social and @jennyrathbone.bsky.social
go.bsky.app/7z84W2k
Here's a piece in Inside Housing about the Local Government & Housing Committee's new report on social housing supply, by John Griffiths MS:
www.insidehousing.co.uk/comment/the-...
Having worked so hard on this over the last year, I am proud of the Committee's report on increasing social housing supply.
The quality of evidence to Committee was extremely high.
Wales needs a critical mass of social housing - at least 20%, ideally up to a third of stock.
tinyurl.com/246zrhh2
