By Neil Merrick
4 February 2010
The watchdog for social housing is promising to cut its running costs by almost 10% in spite of taking on extra work.
Faced with the prospect of abolition under a Conservative government, the Tenant Services Authority has set out plans to reduce its annual budget in 2010/11 from £38.5m to £35m.
The TSA took over regulation of housing associations from the Housing Corporation in 2008. From April, it will also regulate local authorities with homes. At the same time, the TSA will have to meet a £1.8m bill for inspecting associations rather than the Audit Commission.
TSA chair Anthony Mayer said overall savings would be closer to 15% once the absorption of costs from the Audit Commission was factored in. ‘We are leading by example by demonstrating value for money in the social housing sector for the taxpayer and government,’ he added.
Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps has made it clear that both the TSA and the Homes & Communities Agency could be abolished, as part of a drive to cut quangos and regulatory bodies, if the Tories win the general election.
The TSA has already identified savings of £2m per year by reducing IT costs and setting up an in-house legal team to save on external fees.
A report presented to board members on January 27 said the authority, which employs 247 people, would need to fill up to ten new regulatory posts in 2010/11 but would not increase overall staffing by more than three.
Money will also be saved by moving out of offices in Cambridge and Leeds. Other ideas put forward include sending all mail second class and buying cheaper rail tickets. All transactions worth more than £1,000 will appear on the TSA’s website.
Negotiations are continuing between the TSA and Department for Communities and Local Government over a pensions deficit inherited from the corporation. This is forecast to cost the TSA £2.15m in 2010/11 and £2.95m in 2011/12.
4 February 2010
The watchdog for social housing is promising to cut its running costs by almost 10% in spite of taking on extra work.
Faced with the prospect of abolition under a Conservative government, the Tenant Services Authority has set out plans to reduce its annual budget in 2010/11 from £38.5m to £35m.
The TSA took over regulation of housing associations from the Housing Corporation in 2008. From April, it will also regulate local authorities with homes. At the same time, the TSA will have to meet a £1.8m bill for inspecting associations rather than the Audit Commission.
TSA chair Anthony Mayer said overall savings would be closer to 15% once the absorption of costs from the Audit Commission was factored in. ‘We are leading by example by demonstrating value for money in the social housing sector for the taxpayer and government,’ he added.
Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps has made it clear that both the TSA and the Homes & Communities Agency could be abolished, as part of a drive to cut quangos and regulatory bodies, if the Tories win the general election.
The TSA has already identified savings of £2m per year by reducing IT costs and setting up an in-house legal team to save on external fees.
A report presented to board members on January 27 said the authority, which employs 247 people, would need to fill up to ten new regulatory posts in 2010/11 but would not increase overall staffing by more than three.
Money will also be saved by moving out of offices in Cambridge and Leeds. Other ideas put forward include sending all mail second class and buying cheaper rail tickets. All transactions worth more than £1,000 will appear on the TSA’s website.
Negotiations are continuing between the TSA and Department for Communities and Local Government over a pensions deficit inherited from the corporation. This is forecast to cost the TSA £2.15m in 2010/11 and £2.95m in 2011/12.
