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Homes and Communities Agency spared from 'bonfire of the quangos'
15/10/10
Edited by Andy Jowett.Regeneration body the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has been spared from the government's "bonfire of the quangos" - but the body is facing substantial reform.
Following a review of the public bodies, which receive Whitehall funding but are independent from departmental control, Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude confirmed 192 quangos face the axe.
Although the HCA will be retained, it will be given a smaller "enabling role" as an investment agency and its functions in the capital will be devolved to the mayor of London.
In addition, the agency will take on the regulation of social housing from the Tenants' Services Authority, which is being scrapped as part of the quango cull.
The HCA said it is now in talks with the Department for Communities and Local Government about the detail of its "streamlined" responsibilities.
Sir Bob Kerslake, the organisation's chief executive, commented: "This in an opportunity to harness the valuable synergies that exist between the investment and regulatory functions."
In the 12 months to March, the HCA and its partner builders started work on 64,811 homes in England against a target of 53,315.
They also finished 56,118 properties, beating a benchmark of 52,325.
