“Responsible Recovery” report

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A report published today calls on policy-makers to hand power to social landlords to work with their communities to determine and deliver a range of employment-related services. The report focuses on creating avenues to growth that work at a local level for communities, especially those with significant levels of deprivation.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) played a significant role in developing the ResPublica report, "Responsible recovery: a social contract for local growth", featuring as a case study and holding a workshop attended by tenant and employee members which fed into the final conclusions.

Gareth Swarbrick, Chief Executive of RBH, said: "I'm delighted that RBH has had the opportunity to contribute to this report, and we share the view that building community and opportunity are two key foundations for sustainability and economic growth. As a unique mutual, owned by tenants and employees, we're beginning to see the benefits of ensuring that local people are as involved in decision-making at a range of levels.

"The report makes a number of recommendations. RBH welcomes in particular the proposal that employment support should be radically localised and devolved as closely as possible to disadvantaged communities. This would ensure that Work Programme providers work directly with or via community based organisations. Community rooted housing organisations such as the mutual RBH can and should have a pivotal role in this.

"RBH also strongly welcomes the recommendation that Government should consult on the future of the Bedroom Tax, considering whether local exemptions should be introduced to ensure community stability. The local experience of RBH is that implementation of the Bedroom Tax changes may pose a serious risk to the future sustainability of many local communities, with the wider social costs that this will bring."