Why Steve Benson wants tenants to be bored, and why John Healey could deliver on that score. Rodney Dykes reports
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The conference's breakout sessions are often as popular as the main plenaries.
Despite the prospect of lunching, the think tank slots seem to do well. Lesley Riddoch's session was a full house. The benefit of having a professional broadcaster and journalist was marked, as letting her loose with a microphone saw audience participation at its best. Raise an eyebrow and she spots it a mile off.
The topic was 'the way ahead' and a wide range of views were aired. Interesting too, especially those expressed by someone who described herself as a red Conservative. Well I never.
Opinions were offered on issues ranging from the rehousing of grannies who live alone in four-bedroom homes to rent levels in Germany, although some ideas were more thought provoking than others.
Then on to the main event of the day. Chartered Institute of Housing president Steve Benson took a well attended session through a full to-do list. You will read the speech in detail elsewhere, but I liked his concept of kite flying and thought leadership and a desire to make life boring - that is, total satisfaction from the population and regulators for our performance as housing providers.
It may be cruel, but the headline 'President wants boredom - minister delivers' might bring a smile to the faces of those who then heard our new housing minister, John Healey.
To be fair, with only a week or so in office, it was wise of him to be calm, considered and cautious.
I observed a steely determination about him as a person and as housing minister. With a background in the third sector, some time at the Treasury and at the Communities and Local Government department, he is clearly a safe pair of hands. I can hardly see him rocking the boat.
He would have surely welcomed Mr Benson's opinion that 'volatility is counter productive.'
Buzz words
Then back to the Royal Hall with its Victorian splendour. A recurring theme has been more for less, without sacrificing quality in favour of quantity.
Homes and Communities Agency chief executive Sir Bob Kerslake presented a vast display of depressing slides and statistics which more than easily demonstrated what he has inherited.
Mark Amis from Lloyds TSB did his best - oh, how we love the bankers - but the star was Elaine Elkington.
Community engagement was as at the heart of the matter. Only retrofitting will challenge it as the buzz phrase of this year's conference.
I like Ms Elkington for her style and substance - and I'm not her only fan. The delegate from Greenwich took it a stage further. I wonder if she did get the gin and tonic?
Lesley Riddoch was on stage again at the Talk to the HCA session. After a slow start, we bounced from topic to topic, including cavity wall insulation, grant rates, decent homes, boilers and the BNP.
It is a big business, the HCA. Sir Bob's local government background shows, as does his understanding of bureaucratic processes and management structures. He is doing a lot, as well as spending a lot. Let's hope the money doesn't run out too soon, for whatever reason.
He also gave housing association board members a ringing endorsement, acknowledging that they are a precious resource. It was a point well made.
Meanwhile, back at the stands, hats off to the Tenant Services Authority's pink exhibit. The swot of the week prize goes to Amanda Davis of Seren Group, who specially chose her new pink outfit with matching pink shoes, as she knew she was going to visit the stand and wanted to blend in!
After careful thought I chose to miss the swaps and derivatives session in order to listen to the man from Tesco.
Clive Humby opened a new world for his clubcard carrying audience (see page 8). The need to know more about customers, or our more than 15 million tenants, started to put things into perspective. Mr Humby's approach, which includes looking into other people's shopping baskets to figure out what they're buying, was highly entertaining. Swaps and derivatives? I made the right decision!
Then followed Peter Marsh, chief executive of the Tenant Services Authority. Minus the pink van, which he has loaned, believe it or not, to Tesco.
The relationship between landlord and tenant is obviously going to be very different to our relationship with people who sell cornflakes. The TSA is challenged with transforming the way it treats its own customers - remember that soon registered providers will be charged for their service, not to mention that the regulator will be widening its role to embrace local authorities.
Peter Marsh is an engaging guy. I had lunch with him and very pleasant it was too - he was good company, sharp and incisive, and he seemed to listen as well.
It may not be Tesco, but his is still a big job.
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