CIH Conference & Exhibition 2010
22 to 24 June
Harrogate International Centre
www.cihhousing.com
Shaping the future
The annual CIH Conference and Exhibition in Harrogate has always given the social housing sector plenty of food for thought but this year organisers are hoping to make much more of a meal out of the seminars and sessions and use the contributions of attendees to create a Housing Pact – a shared statement of priorities for housing.
As well as giving delegates the opportunity to shape and drive forward the sector’s priorities for housing, the conference is following a slightly different format this year with the conference programme being divided into themed days.
It kicks off on Tuesday 22 June 2010 with a focus on “our organisations” and a series of sessions examining the economic realities facing the sector, looking at the impact of spending cuts and exploring ways to make organisations fit for purpose.
Global economist Ian Shepherdson returns for Tuesday’s opening keynote “Economic Realities”, which looks at macro economic trends and their impact on the sector’s business and consumers. Shepherdson will be joined by Richard Chote, director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Paul Lewis from Radio 4’s Money Box.
Wednesday is all about communities and how to engage and empower them and the sessions will explore strategies for effective customer involvement.
Embedding tenant focus and accountability into our cultures is the focus for “The Regulator, the Tenant and the Provider,” with speakers Peter Marsh, chief executive of the TSA and Diane Lee, chair of Community Housing Trust.
Not forgetting the football, there will also be a World Cup Football Reception during the afternoon.
Thursday focuses around the future and delivering housing for tomorrow Steve Quartermain, CLG’s Chief Planner and Tim Leunig, Economist from the LSE will be delving into intricacies of the planning system in “how to get communities and systems to support and deliver the homes and neighbourhoods we need.”
While Sally Hancox, director of Gentoo Green will be looking at “making retrofit affordable” in a session chaired by Anne McLoughlin-Flynn, director of operations at Hastoe Homes.
Finally the Housing Pact will be delivered to the Housing Minister by Sarah Webb, CIH chief executive, with the question “Can the Government deliver on the Pact?”
This will be followed by the vice president’s address and Question Time when the panel will debate on this question.
Panelists include Mark Steel, the political activist and comedian and members of the St Basils Youth Advisory Panel. It will be chaired by writer and broadcaster Simon Fanshawe.
As well as the usual keynote sessions and the main conference programme sessions, there will be a range of smaller sessions, giving delegates the chance to have their say.
And of course the exhibition halls will be packed with a range of stalls from suppliers, to support organisations including: Miller Homes, Keepmoat, Kier, Communities and Local Government, the Audit Commission, Batchelors Solicitors, Ainsley Gommon Architects and Groundwork.
Our May magazines will take a more in-depth look at the conference and what is on offer and contain a full list of exhibitors.
