The recent conference on tackling new regulations in Value for Money and Social Return on Investment, held by the Board Development Agency (BDA) last week (9 February), proved to be an unmitigated success.

With over 75 housing association professionals in attendance, including: Chief Executives, Finance Directors and Procurement Directors, the conference helped delegates digest issues around the proposed new VFM standard and economic regulation for private registered providers (not local authorities), to be introduced from 1 April 2012.

Yvonne Atkinson, Director of the BDA said: "The conference was an incredible success. There was a lot of debate and discussions about the new regulations and what actually needs to be done and the affect it will have on their organisations.

"The speakers warned delegates that organisations need to develop methodologies and tools for self assessment of the value for money standard. They also need to develop better and more transparent VFM strategies to demonstrate to tenants and the regulator that they are meeting the standard. People told us that they came away from the conference with a methodology and tools to achieve this, which is fantastic."

The conference also heard from Chris White M.P for Warwick and Leamington, about the new Public Services (Social Value) bill, currently due to receive the third reading in the House of Lords on 28 February 2012.

Chris White is the private member's bill's sponsor - and has managed to get all party support for his bill. Chris told delegates about how it will indirectly impact on social housing providers in the same way that we are currently affected by the EU public procurement rules. He stated: "the direct effect will be on public authorities who will have to consider social value in all its commissioning and procurement - even those below the EU public procurement thresholds."

Yvonne Atkinson stated: "The conference really highlighted that many social housing providers had not really thought about Social Value and procurement, or in measuring how to assess the social value housing associations bring to their tenants and communities. Delegates told the conference that they feel they need for direction on how to evaluate their current social return and this will not be coming from the TSA, we hope the conference helped achieve clarification."

To download the presentations given on the day by the keynote speakers, please go to the following links:

• Chris White, M.P ~ The Social Value Bill and procurement in Local Authorities/ Housing Associations and other Social Enterprises.
• Mick Warner, AD Assurance & Financial Analysis at the TSA ~ The new regulatory framework, the Value for Money standard and what Economic Regulation means for Registered Providers in England.
• Ron Huss from Enhanced Performance Improvements (EPI)~ How to develop a Value for Money strategy and apply the core principles of cost and efficiency or process optimisation: to identify, prioritise, and deliver VFM savings in housing.
• Hugh Laird, Director at BDA ~ Developing a model for Social Impact Assessment as part of a Value for Money strategy.
• Sarah McCoy from the SROINet ~ How to account for social value.
• Jeannette McGarry ~ VFM procurement and social value.