Supporting People grants allocations to local authorities of approx £1.68 billion for 2007-08 were confirmed in July 2006. This includes provision for local authorities to finance support services provided by housing associations to leaseholders if they assess this to be a strategic priority against the needs they have identified in their five-year strategies. Local authorities and their commissioning bodies determine these priorities locally and are expected to make investment decisions to deliver these priorities, which could include leaseholders. Funding for Supporting People beyond 2007-08 will be determined through the comprehensive spending review.
We have been working with local authorities and housing associations to try to ensure that leaseholders are aware of the level of support they might receive from their local authority.