This snapshot taken on 07/04/2010, shows web content selected for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search boxes may not work in archived websites.
Last updated: 19 January 2010
CAB/003/09
19 January 2009
Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Cabinet Office, discussed with housing co-operative tenants and staff whether the mutual model – tenant and staff owned enterprises – could play a bigger role in the UK housing market, in a visit to New Cut Housing Co-operative in Lambeth today (19 January).
Tessa Jowell met with staff and residents at the housing co-operative to find out more about their experience of co-operative housing. The Minister for the Cabinet Office, London and the Olympics asked tenants about the benefits of living in a housing co-operative and discussed with staff the barriers stopping increases in the co-operative housing market.
Last month, the Minister gave a major speech outlining her views that mutuals – such as staff and user-owned co-operatives – should have a major role in public service delivery and reform. The Minister announced plans to create an independent Commission on Ownership, chaired by Will Hutton, to investigate the issue. She also announced she was to meet ministers responsible for housing, social care and Sure Start, to investigate a larger role for mutualism.
Ninety-year-old tenant, Rosa Wright, the Secretary of the New Cut Co-operative, discussed the benefits of living in a co-operative:
“In a co-operative one can live alone, but not be lonely. Through involvement and participation, we have a say in what happens in our homes."
Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said:
“It is easy to see the value and benefits of housing co-operatives. They support individual ownership and tenants making the decisions about their own homes, while creating and maintaining a strong community spirit.
“I am visiting New Cut today to meet with tenants to hear first hand about their experiences of living and participating in co-operative housing. I also hope to see how the benefits of mutual housing – such as co-operatives and tenant-owned estates – can be more widely shared across the UK.”
David Rodgers, Executive Director of CDS Co-operatives, said:
“We welcome the establishment of the Commission on Ownership by Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Cabinet Office. We agree with the Minister that ownership matters because with ownership comes power. Housing co-operatives like New Cut demonstrate admirably the benefits which resident ownership of affordable housing brings. “
New Cut Housing Co-operative is part of CDS Housing Co-operative, the largest housing co-operative in London and the South-east. It is a member of the Confederation of Co-operative Housing.
Tel: 020 7276 0317, 0207 276 3472, 0207 276 0400
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Out of hours telephone 07699 113300 and ask for pager number 721338