The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Local Authority Pension Funds has launched an inquiry into ‘Responsible investment for a just transition’ and is inviting submissions to its call for evidence. The inquiry is being led by the chair of the APPG, Clive Betts MP, with support from the Smith Institute. Its findings will be published ahead of the UN climate change … [Read more...]
Smith Institute supports Brent poverty commission
The independent Brent Poverty Commission launched its final report ‘A fairer future: Ending Poverty in Brent’. The Smith Institute’s Paul Hunter served as a commissioner and also undertook qualitive work with residents and quantitative analysis of poverty in the borough which features in the report. The report for Brent council set out more than 40 recommendations and called … [Read more...]
Making Housing Affordable Again – final report of the Affordable Housing Commission
Over 18 months the Smith Institute supported the independent Affordable Housing Commission has undertaken a wide-ranging review of housing affordability in England. The final report has over 50 recommendations and calls for a collective effort, led by government, to rebalance the housing system to make housing affordable again. The in-depth analysis and proposals seek to … [Read more...]
Housing associations face tough choices around rents and arrears
The mix of COVID-19, an economic downturn and the roll-out of Universal Credit is likely to drive rent arrears among social tenants to record highs. Our estimates based on YouGov polling for the Resolution Foundation suggest that 590,000 working-age households in social housing are in arrears. Although the recent rise in rent arrears in social housing is less than in the … [Read more...]
The Smith Institute at the 2019 Party Conferences
The Smith Institute will be hosting fringe events at the Lib Dem, Labour, Conservative and SNP conferences. Join us for informed debate affordable housing; trade unions; civil service independence; universal credit and a just transition. Lib Dems – Brighton Do the Liberal Democrats trust the civil service? Monday 16th September, 13.00-14.00, … [Read more...]
Spending more of the public’s money will need better oversight
In this article former head of the civil service, Lord Kerslake, responds to our new report Spending Fairly, Spending Well and makes the case for better oversight of public spending. … [Read more...]
The Smith Institute launches Affordable Housing Commission
The Smith Institute is proud announce that it has established the Affordable Housing Commission, which is being funded by the Nationwide Foundation. The new stand-alone Commission is being chaired by Lord Best with 15 leading players from across the housing world. Its core objectives are to: examine the causes and effects of the affordability crisis and how it relates to … [Read more...]
The Smith Institute at the 2018 Party Conferences
The Smith Institute will be hosting fringe events at the Lib Dem, Labour, Conservative and SNP conferences. Join us for informed debate on social housing and poverty; reviving the trade union movement; championing the Living Wage and why companies go bust. Lib Dems – Brighton No voice, no growth: Is the lack of democracy at work holding back the UK economy? Monday 17th … [Read more...]
Delivering the renaissance in council built homes: four ‘nationwide’ high level seminars – Cambridge, Exeter, York, Manchester
Please join the Smith Institute at one of four ‘nationwide’ high level regional seminars in March – in Cambridge, Exeter, York and Manchester – focussed on the renaissance in councils building again. The Smith Institute’s research and that of the TCPA shows that councils are finding new and exciting ways of meeting local housing needs, including setting up local housing … [Read more...]