Issue: 73 | September 2024

Welcome to the latest edition of CT Brief. This issue covers a lot of ground including everything from AI and the government’s new plans for 1.5 million homes, to funding public services and a potential return to the ‘Total Place’ agenda. We also look at issues in care and support and showcase our latest publication for the Local Government Association, on carrying out needs assessments for people with learning disabilities and autism.

These seemingly disparate subjects are united by an underlying theme about new approaches and new thinking to solve long-standing problems – whether it’s place-based joined-up funding to tackle multi-faceted problems, or looking at how AI can help us work smarter and more effectively.

We have a new government which promises a fresh start and we are all hopeful that it will really put housing at the centre of its plans – notwithstanding the challenges of workforce development and the ability of Registered Providers to take on Section 106 properties.

We are also reminded in this edition that we are working with some of the most deprived and vulnerable people, and we have included an article from The PramDepot – a charity we were privileged to work with on a CT volunteer day earlier this summer, which provides much-needed recycled baby items for vulnerable young mothers.

We hear too about furniture poverty and the work being done over the past 35 years – ever more critical in the past few years – to encourage landlords to provide the essential furniture and white goods needed by tenants, who are often seriously challenged by the cost of living.

We hope the range of topics covered in our 73rd issue highlights more hopeful and positive approaches to housing and care issues, in the knowledge that where there is a committed group of people, who want to solve social problems and who are prepared to work hard and think big, nothing is impossible!