Regional Housing Board

The Regional Housing Board was established by Government in February 2003 to contribute to successful, thriving and inclusive communities, urban and rural, across Yorkshire and the Humber. Originally it was organised and run by Government Office. In September 2006 the RHB moved to the Assembly as part of the new governance arrangements that the region had put in place following a request from Government.

The Regional Housing Board is the key forum for discussing and deciding housing policy in the region. It exists to:

• Provide regional leadership for housing and ensures delivery of the regional housing strategy;
• Undertake a co-ordinating role, providing leadership for other organisations involved in delivery of housing; and
• Ensure effective linkages with streams of work that remain the responsibility of organisations which are Regional Housing Board members – e.g. decent homes, homelessness and supporting people.

What does it do?

The Board is responsible for producing, updating and monitoring the Regional Housing Strategy and its associated investment plan. This investment plan is used to advise Government how best to spend around £150m in the region each year building new affordable homes and regenerating and renewing existing housing and communities.

The Board also plays a key role influencing and lobbying Government and other national and regional agencies. The aim is to ensure national housing policy fully reflects the needs of the region and provides the tools and resources to help us deliver the vision and priorities set out in the Regional Housing Strategy.

In the region, the Board also works closely with the Regional Planning Board and the Regional Transport Board to join up the transport, planning and housing agendas, and with Yorkshire Forward to ensure integration of economic development activity.

Over the past year, the Regional Housing Board has...

• Advised Ministers on housing investment worth £480m for the 2008-11 period;
• Advised Ministers on funding for Gypsy and Traveller provision;
• Provided practical support for people delivering rural housing;
• Worked with partners to ensure higher environmental standards are promoted;
• Lobbied Government to ensure the region’s housing needs are properly understood centrally.

What are its priorities this year?

• Driving delivery of the Regional Housing Strategy – ensuring that the strategy makes a difference on the ground.
• Working in particular to improve delivery of affordable housing.
• Further work on affordable warmth, improving private sector stock and Gypsy and Traveller issues.
• Contribute to Regional Funding Allocations advice on long term funding priorities for the region.
• Work with the emerging Homes and Communities Agency to help shape developing structures

How does it work?

The Regional Housing Board is accountable to the Regional Executive Board for delivery of the Regional Housing Strategy. It is responsible for building and maintaining good and productive relationships with bodies and organisations in the region responsible for providing housing and related services, in particular by working with and through the Regional Housing Forum.

How often does it meet?

The Regional Housing Board usually meets four times each year. You can download all meeting agendas, papers and minutes as they become available from the Meetings section of this website.

Who's involved?

The Chair and Deputy Chair are members of the Assembly, one is a Local Authority Member and the other is a Social, Economic and Environmental Partner member. The Chair for 2008/09 is Cllr Kris Hopkins from Bradford Metropolitan District Council, and the Deputy Chair is Patricia Farrell from the Yorkshire and Humber Faiths Forum. The other members of the Board are not necessarily from the Assembly, but represent organisations responsible for planning, funding, developing, delivering and managing housing and housing services in the region, to include local authority representatives from the four sub regional housing partnerships.

Who supports the Regional Housing Board?

The Board is supported by the Assembly Housing and Communities Team, led by Head of Service, Rob Warm. The key work of the Board is also supported by an Advisory Group. This is made up of officers from the bodies involved in the Board and its role is primarily to provide technical support to the Board.

For more information or a list of current members, contact the Assembly.