A recent email exchange between CLG, the Empty Homes Network and self-help-housing.org has clarified that local authorities do not have to use the pro forma supplied on the Tribal site if they are providing letters of support for Community Grants Programme bids.
The issue raised by self-help-housing.org was that the pro forma provided went beyond the requiements specified by CLG in the main bidding guidance. In particular, the pro forma - which we understand was modelled on the one developed by the HCA for its own £70million funding programme - seemed to want local authorites to provide lists of the empty properties to be brought back into use in the programme including how long they were empty, whether acquired or not.
The pro forma only asks for this information if available but there is certainly an implication that it should be provided if possible.
The Empty Homes Network contribution to the issue was to question the need for the requested information:
I cannot see any real point in asking local authorities for this level of detail on individual properties when it is accepted firstly that the detail will not be available in most cases and secondly that it is not even required to be available. ...
We suggested that the reponse should focus on the deliverability of the bid and tick the main boxes required by CLG such as that the Empty Property Officer is aware of the bid.
A response from Sally Turner at CLG states:
We are happy for LAs to use the proforma or to provide their own letter of support if that's easier. The most important thing it's from someone responsible at the LA and the Empty Homes Officer is aware of the proposal.
It's also critical that any support letter does go out with the bid: it will be no good saying that the support letter is "on the way".
For the sake of convenience, the requirements stated in the CLG Bidding Guidance for letters of support were as follows:
A letter confirming local authority support and that the proposals meet local priorities/support local strategies.
The notes on the application form, jointly prepared by CLG and Tribal, atate that applicants must have:
support by means of a letter of endorsement from your local authority and must as a
minimum include the following:
responsibility to provide the letter of endorsement. Your application will not be
assessed if it is submitted without a letter of endorsement. This was supplemented in the notes to the letter-of-support template with the following:
minimum include the following:
- That they have reviewed your application for this grant funding and know where the project is located
- They support the proposed project plan
- The project supports their local housing strategy and meets local priorities.
- The Empty Homes Officer is aware
responsibility to provide the letter of endorsement. Your application will not be
assessed if it is submitted without a letter of endorsement. This was supplemented in the notes to the letter-of-support template with the following:
- If individual properties have not yet been identified, but you are aware that properties will become available, please make this distinction within the details you provide
- The letter must be produced on your local authority letterhead
- The letter must be from the Director of Housing or the equivalent position in your authority
- The letter must contain a contact telephone number and or email address of the author of the letter
- An ink signature is required – an electronic copy of the letter should be submitted at the point of application by the applicant organisation by 17th April 2012, and a signed hard copy should be posted to us by 19th April 2012.