Meeting as one region

The movers and shakers in the housing world from across the South of England will gather at the latest regional conference and exhibition hosted by the CIH South East branch. Southern Housing takes an advance peek

Yes, it’s that time of year again, so get those thinking caps on for the 21st annual regional conference and exhibition hosted by the South East branch of the CIH.

Over the years, this has become a crucial meeting of minds for key players in the housing industry and further afield, drawing anyone and everyone who has an interest in the issues around creating homes and communities. Indeed, that’s pretty much everyone, so it’s hardly surprising that media commentators and politicians are just as likely to turn up and rub shoulders alongside housing association chiefs, planners, consultants and all the rest.

In fact, the attendance of the political classes – not noted for being shy of the public podium – speaks volumes about the rising importance of the event. It’s become something of a place to be seen for the all important discussions on the future direction the housing world must take to achieve its aims.

“The 2010 event will mark 21 years of growth and recognition into a well-established regional conference, highly regarded by organisations seeking to make a long lasting difference for the communities they work with,” said a spokesperson for the organisation. “It continues to challenge economic trends and provide a unique platform for senior politicians, board members and executives from the social housing sector, voluntary organisations and the private sector. In addition, they provide a cross-tenure opportunity to hear about and discuss the very latest developments within Government from key contributors.”

Last year, 1,292 delegates and visitors from across London and the South East took part in the event. That attendance was up 11 per cent on the 2008 conference and exhibition, and the CIHSE is confident that this year on year growth will continue in 2010. Among the organisations attending, there’s a good mix of consultants and professionals, housing associations, ALMOs and local authorities, government departments, charities, and partnering organisations, such as contractors, not to mention suppliers to the industry.

That mix is hardly surprising, given that the event has gained such a high profile over the years; it has come to offer a prime networking opportunity. And it’s not just about networking, of course. There’s to be plenty of food for thought, debate and discussion at the keynote speeches, forum panels and workshops.

The CIHSE committee chair Claire Martin will welcome delegates to the event on the Tuesday, which will be themed around ‘making a difference’.

After that, it will kick off its first keynote session where Ben Page, chief executive of IPSOS MORI, and Sally Thomas, director with Social Regeneration Consultants, will explore the issues and perceptions around social capital and mobility. The session will look at how this concept impacts on housing tenure, neighbourhoods and how ‘value’ can be added in a changing economic climate.

Among the policy forums there’ll be a look at the question of what customers want as well as coping with financial cuts. The former will be led by Debbie King, chair of Thornhill, and Paula Walker, tenant inspector, the Audit Commission. Exploring the impact of social capital on customer services, they will present practice models and look at what social landlords can do to gain a better understanding of the needs of their customers. The second policy forum, presented by Richard Capie of the CIH, and Steve Amos, head of social capital finance at Barclays, will look at how housing organisations can manage the impact of budget cuts – an important topic given the forthcoming era of belt-tightening the region, not to mention the country, faces.

Later in the day, Radio 4 broadcaster Peter White will facilitate the keynote debate. This will discuss whether effective local delivery can be achieved without national measurements. On the discussion panel will be Paddy Mooney, head of housing south at the Audit Commission and Sara Williams, a strategic advisor with the Improvement & Development Agency, who will be arguing for a national framework. Against them, Anthony Mayer, chairman of the Tenant Services Authority (TSA), will put the case for a local framework of delivery. Wednesday’s timetable will be themed around social capital, beginning with a keynote address on recession and recovery. Titled ‘Don’t panic’, it will question how different society and the economy will be after the recession. Taking part in this discussion will be journalist Merryn Somerset-Webb, Oliver Kamm, a former banker and now a columnist with The Times, and Howard Farrand, president of the CIH.

The day’s forum sessions will take a look at the strategic role of local authorities, asking how they can be agents of change, and the implementation of the Rugg Review, looking at issues affecting and shaping the future of the private sector. In the afternoon, Kerry Kyriacou, group director of Affinity Sutton, and David Edwards, regional director at the HCA, will be exploring the future development of communities. They’ll be asking how the industry can deliver the number of homes needed, and ask are they the right types of housing for the future?

On the final day of the event, sessions will look at community land trusts, short notice inspections, and the challenges of retrofitting existing housing stock to meet the ever-pressing needs of the sustainability issue. All told it promises to be a busy event.

No doubt, as the event draws nearer, there’ll be plenty more important issues and topics coming up.

For the latest information on the conference and exhibition, visit www.cihseconf.co.uk

CIH South East Regional Conference & Exhibition 2010, 2-4 March 2010
The Brighton Metropole Hotel