Housing Business Planning in an Uncertain Environment

Aim

This in-house training session looks in depth at how local authorities can update their housing revenue account business plans.

Business Planning has been an important element of the management of council housing for some time. However, we are now operating in a very uncertain environment. There is a minority government; the Housing & Planning Act will not be implemented in full; the future funding of supported housing is under threat; and the implications of the vote for Britain to leave the European Union are not clear.

The public finances are weak; welfare reform is a ‘work in progress’; government policy on rent reductions, ‘right to buy’, new development and the integration of housing, social care & health are all unclear. Demographic change continues to put pressure on housing services.

This requires a new way of business planning including a robust approach to the development of strategy, financial forecasting, sensitivity analysis, risk management and contingency planning.

Content

This course will include coverage on:

• What are the key elements of a good quality housing revenue account business plan?
• What is the political, economic, social and technological environment in which local authority housing services operate? What are the key uncertainties?
• How can councils develop effective self-financed business plans that will address the new uncertain environment in a robust way? What assumptions should be made in the financial model? How can uncertainties be managed?
• What business planning techniques are now required including for strategy, financial forecasting, sensitivity analysis, risk management and contingency planning?

The session is interactive, includes specific practical examples and is accompanied by a very useful book entitled: “Housing Business Planning in an Uncertain Environment”

Outcomes

Attendees will understand how to prepare and update housing business plans in the current uncertain environment.

Who Should Attend

All those with an interest in business planning in local authority housing, including Managers in Local Authorities and Arm’s Length Management Organisations, Elected Members, ALMO Board Members, Housing Accountants and Tenant Representatives.

Adrian Waite presenting an in-house training session at Rochdale Boroughwide Housing

Our in-house training sessions are delivered at the client's premises or another venue arranged by the client.

All our in-house training sessions are tailored to the needs of the individual client. This includes using local data to illustrate the points and emphasising matters that are of interest locally.

Most of our in-house training sessions are for a day, but there are half-day and evening options available.

To download a copy of our brochure, please click HERE

To find out what feedback we have received from people who have already attended our courses, please click HERE

For more information about in-house training or to arrange a session, please contact Adrian Waite at 017683-51498 or adrian.waite@awics.co.uk