Successful Bidders for the 2006 Transfer Programme Announced

On 18th October 2006 the DCLG announced the successful bidders for the 2006/07 transfer programme.

Thirty-eight local authorities have been approved to transfer more than 94,000 homes over the next two years.

Of the 38, twenty-four have been granted an immediate place and the remaining fourteen have been granted an ‘open place’ pending further discussions with the DCLG.

The further discussions are considered to be mainly due to the number of negative value transfers and the DCLG’s funding pot being over subscribed.  The total gap funding pot is £182 million but included in the 2006/07 successful transfer bidders is Manchester City Council which has requested £150 million, Salford Council which has requested £98.6 million and Tower Hamlets which has requested £19 million.

The list of successful bidders is detailed below but you will also be able to find the same list on the 2006/07 Programme Applicants tab within Latest Information button on the LSVT screen of the Social Housing Database.

Round 6 ALMO Announcement Delayed AgainIn August 2006 the DCLG requested that Round 4 and 5 ALMOs review their spending plans and consider delaying their improvement works beyond the 2010 decent homes target (August 2006 bulletin).

Following this request, the ALMOs announced, in October 2006, that they would not delay work stating that promises made to tenants on the completion of work were paramount.  The DCLG warned that if the ALMOs would not voluntarily delay some of their spending, they might be forced to do so.

This warning has now been instigated with the DCLG informing Round 6 ALMO applicants that it will not award funding or announce successful applicants until Round 4 and 5 ALMOs agree to extend their improvement works.

Chief Executives of Round 4 and 5 ALMOs will have a meeting with the DCLG, later in October, in order to resolve the impasse and progress the announcement of Round 6 ALMOs.