Deputy Alan Breckon wants to see responsibility for the 4,500 units transferred from the Housing Department to a limited liability company wholly owned by the States.In proposals lodged with the States on Tuesday, he explains that the move would see a separation of the States’ role as both provider and regulator of social housing.The proposed company would have a management board, comprising up to six tenants’ representatives or their nominees, up to six States Members and up to six other people with relevant experience.And the proposal would include the transfer of the estates section of the Housing Department to the company.CaretakerHousing’s estates manager Ian Gallichan said there were currently 54 staff working for his section, including 28 cleaning and caretaker employees.
However, such a move would have to include some staff from the department’s finance section who deal with rental subsidies, rent arrears and financial back-up for the estates section, he said.In his proposition, Deputy Breckon asks States Members to approve in principle the establishment of the company and board, and to request Finance and Economics to decide and keep under review suitable terms of reference for their operation.The St Saviour Deputy also wants both Policy and Resources and Finance to enable the transfer of existing employees involved in the management and general functions relating to the public sector housing stock from the Housing Department to the company.’The total assets would continue to belong to the States.
However, an arm’s-length relationship would develop for the management and general benefit of the community,’ he says.The company would have a certain amount of commercial freedom to manage more pro-actively the portfolio of property, says Deputy Breckon, and, if necessary, use it as collateral within agreed limits to raise funds for future investment to house the Island’s population adequately.Ultimately, any housing benefits would fall under Employment and Social Security and would not be part of the management board’s remit, he adds.
