ALMO Developments

Red Brick raises ALMOs (Arms Length Management Organisations).  Brent was an early adoptee of the ALMO model, back around 1999/2000. From what I recall, the argument was purely pragmatic.  The then Labour government was offering lots of money to Councils that adopted the ALMO model to bring housing up to "decent home" standards.

Unfortunately in some authorities, notably Camden, the whole issue became enormously controversial.  The government refused the money unless ALMO status was adopted.  The local council, partly under the influence of a fierce campaign against "privatisation" by the Camden New Journal, refused.  After bitter conflict, there was no Camden ALMO, and no money to go with it. As a result, Council housing in Camden remains in a poor state.

By 2010, the financial incentives has run out.  Councils like Islington and Brent considered taking their authority housing back into a "traditional" model.  Islington did so.  Brent did not.  As part of this process we were shown analysis of how different kinds of governance worked in different authorities, and there seemed to be little difference between the different models, so we kept the existing ALMO structure.  It all makes the debates in Camden seem a huge misdirection of energy and resources.

Red Brick's blogpost is prompted by an ALMO manifesto being published.  This has a number of ideas for future changes, including managing private properties and building more homes, but as always there are severe financial restrictions.