Lunchtime news March 21

Jon Rouse will leave his job as chief executive of the Housing Corporation to become chief executive of Croydon council, according to Inside Housing. According to the Guardian, his departure follows DCLG rejection of a plea by the Corporation to increase his salary.

The government has dropped plans in the Welfare Reform Bill to introduce a national scheme to dock housing benefit from families evicted for anti-social behaviour following pressure from a coalition of welfare and housing organisations.

The government has also compromised on controversial plans to give bailiffs extra powers to enter debtors’ homes by force. The Department of Constitutional Affairs said the new powers would only apply to bailiffs who are non-Crown employees when they have a full licensing scheme in place.

Welsh first minister Rhodri Morgan has promised to spend £450m on affordable homes if Labour wins another term in the assembly elections, reports the Western Mail.

Tenants in Wansbeck have voted 85% in favour of a stock transfer to Wansbeck Homes on a 70% turnout, according to local press reports.

A 50% increase in micro-generation grants for homes plus a drive to persuade the European Union to reduce VAT on energy efficient products were early highlights of the Budget. More later.