Shapps wants transparency in social housing
Friday, 24 June 2011 11:55 AM
Housing Minister Grant Shapps yesterday called for greater transparency in social housing as he unveiled plans to consult on a new way for tenants to scrutinise how housing associations are run.
Shapps said the Government would seek dialogue with housing associations later this year on whether to extend the scope of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) to include housing associations, many of which receive substantial public investment.
Speaking at the Chartered Institute of Housing conference, Shapps called on associations to open up to more public scrutiny to help them drive efficiency.
Shapps said: "Transparency is not just a nice-to-have, it is vital for driving down costs and ensuring more is achieved with every taxpayers' pound.
“Over the last few decades large amounts of ordinary peoples' cash has been invested in social housing, and the public now deserve to know if there are opportunities for efficiencies that can be exploited, so the very most is made of their past, present and future investment.
"The public want to see value for money in organisations which receive significant public investment.
“So senior staff in housing associations who are earning high salaries should ask themselves whether they are justified, and whether it is a good way for a social business to spend money that is provided through the hard work of taxpayers, and the rents of tenants."
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