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Self-financing for TMOs. What difference does it make?. It’s amazing what you can discover. when you do some digging. Q1: What’s all the fuss about?. Traditional TMO funding. Q2: What are your residents looking for from tenant management?. A:
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Self-financing for TMOs What difference does it make?
It’s amazing what you can discover when you do some digging
Q1: What’s all the fuss about?
Q2: What are your residents looking for from tenant management?
A: • A nicer, safer, more-desirable place to live… with a strong sense of community • Not what the Council is offering – but better!
What the Counciloffers to TMOs • The same services • Delivered in the same way • By the same people • With the TMO taking the credit for how well it’s done…. or not!
Q3: How do we break free and give residents what they want?
Q4: How can I make this happen?
Making it work (1):Know what you’ve got • Detailed stock condition survey • knowing every block, building and land • what needs doing • when it needs doing
Making it work (2):Making the numbers work • Detailed 30 year financial projection • Costing every service and piece of work • What and when spending is required
Making it work (3):Planning for the future • 30 year major works and improvement plans for the whole estates
All TMOs need to keep a close eye on services • Do you know what you are paying for? • How much?
The JMB Story • The Horseshoe pub: Life on Mars ends-JMB self financing begins
Why do it? • This is the next stage in the JMB’s development – ‘growing up’ • No longer an annual argument with Southwark about allowances and funding • Ability to plan major repairs and improvement programmes • More control over services and contract management • Leaseholders can plan their major work payments
Making it easier and manageable for the TMO • We commissioned a housing finance expert- Graham Moody • Did the stock condition survey ourselves/ validated by Ridge consultants • £25,000 paid to consultants/ most work done by JMB Manager/ Finance Manager & Major Works Manager
What is really needed to make it work? • Resident support (canvas of residents): Financial not a legal change. Council tenants are still council tenants. The JMB is still a TMO. • Highly capable & well respected board • Excellent financial and major works management (six years of very hard work) • Political support • Key officers: need a champion at chief officer level (Martin Green) & someone who can package the proposal for the Council and CLG (Lee Page)
Partnership and goodwill have made it happen • Neither Southwark nor the JMB negotiated too hard • This year (2013) we are buying £1.3m of services from Southwark • This year and on - for optional services we need to more rigorously evaluate value for money & negotiate service level agreements
Up there in the Government’s mind • CLG like this model: route for other TMOs? • Southwark Housing Commission say it’s the future • Within the modular management agreement - tweaked • Greater financial control, at a fraction of the price of a stock transfer • Partnership with, rather than divorce from Southwark Council- much less contentious than a stock transfer
So to make it work • Get in the driving seat • Build your alliances • Focus on your services • Get a grip on contracts