Housing campaigner joins the cabinet

Mayor Marvin Rees has appointed experienced housing and mental health campaigner Councillor Tom Renhard as the new Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes. Cllr Renhard, who was elected as a Labour member for Horfield earlier this month, is a director at tenant’s rights group and community union ACORN.

He also served on the Bristol Homes Board for almost four years, supporting the city’s work to get more affordable housing built in the city. The priorities for Cllr Renhard include tackling the housing crisis by ensuring that the city builds 2,000 homes a year by 2024, of which 1,000 are affordable.

There will also be a focus on pursuing a Living Rent in the city to make renting more affordable, and taking a ‘housing first’ approach to supporting people with complex needs who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Mavin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: "Addressing the housing crisis and building more affordable homes remains one of our top priorities, and we know that Tom has a lot of experience working in housing and as a new councillor will bring a fresh perspective. “Tom has worked with ACORN supporting tenants and campaigning for housing rights for many years, and he has a vast amount of knowledge to share with us. Providing homes that people can afford and creating communities where people feel proud to live remain two of our main goals.”

Cllr Renhard said: “I am deeply humbled to have been asked to serve as part of Mayor Marvin Rees’ Cabinet. I am looking forward to hitting the ground running and building on the strong foundations that have already been laid down.

“I have been involved in campaigning for greater protections for renters in the private-rented sector in Bristol and I am passionate about making sure communities are involved in the decision-making about what goes on in their area.

“There is a lot to do and it will take strong trusted partnerships to achieve our aspirations, while continuing to be a leading city that innovates and delivers.”

Working with the Cabinet positions and portfolios now announced, the Mayor will retain direct responsibility for transport, helping to get people moving around the city in a clean and sustainable way, as well as planning and city design.

The focus will be on progressing a mass transit system for Bristol, while also delivering the Bus Deal and doubling the frequency of buses on key routes. It has also been confirmed that Councillor Helen Godwin will take on the education and schools brief as part of her role as lead member for Women and Families.

There will also be a drive to expand the electric vehicle infrastructure, introduce an integrated ticketing system and pursue new train stations for the city.

The Mayor added: “Improving our transport network will be key to developing the city. We are taking bold action to create a better, more connected future for everyone in and around Bristol. Our ambition will protect public health and unlock barriers to inclusive and sustainable economic growth with cleaner air, safer and better public transport, and improved walking and cycling routes.

“Delivery of reliable sustainable transport options will help to connect people to education and employment opportunities, health care, retail and leisure facilities, and we work with the community to minimise impacts as we rebuild together after COVID-19. “Our Cabinet appointments allow us to focus on delivering on our commitments, and work to tackle the issues of inequality and make Bristol a city where everyone can prosper.” The full make up of the new Cabinet is as follows:

• Mayor Marvin Rees – lead on Transport,

Planning and City Design • Councillor Craig Cheney – Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Performance • Councillor Asher Craig – Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Communities,

Equalities and Public Health • Councillor Helen Godwin - Cabinet

Member for Families, Education and

Women (Lead Member for Children’s

Services) • Councillor Helen Holland - Cabinet

Member with responsibility for Adult

Social Care • Councillor Nicola Beech – Cabinet

Member for Climate, Ecology, Waste and

Energy • Councillor Tom Renhard – Cabinet • Member for Housing Delivery and Homes

From January, 2022 car and home insurance renewal quotes may not be any more expensive than those offered to new customers

New rules banning a “loyalty penalty” on insurance will save consumers £4.2bn over 10 years - but could also reduce cut-price switching deals, the UK financial watchdog said.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) confirmed a ban on car and home insurance renewal quotes being any more expensive than they would be for new customers, which will come into effect on 1st January 2022.

They previously found - in a 2018 study - that customers who stuck to their policies were paying £1.2bn a year too much..

The FCA scrutinised a practice known as “price walking” - where firms increase prices for existing customers each year at the time of renewal.

This means that customers have to shop around and switch every year to avoid paying the price of being loyal and distorts the market, the watchdog found. They said in a statement online, its new rules - confirming the findings of an interim report last year - would end the practice.

“Insurers will be required to offer renewing customers a price that is no higher than they would pay as a new customer,” the FCA said.

“It is likely that firms will no longer offer unsustainably low-priced deals to some customers.

“However, the FCA estimates that these measures will save consumers £4.2bn over 10 years, by removing the loyalty penalty and making the market work better.”

Thwy continued to said it was also bringing in new rules to make it easier for consumers to cancel automatic renewals of their policies and force insurance firms to do more to consider how they offer fair value to customers.

Sheldon Mills, executive director for consumers and competition at the FCA, said in an online statement: “These measures will put an end to the very high prices paid by many loyal customers.

“Consumers can still benefit from shopping around or negotiating with their current provider - but won’t be charged more at renewal just for being an existing customer.

“We will be watching closely to see how the market develops in the future and to ensure firms continue to deliver fairer value to consumers.”

A spokes man at the consumer group Which?, said: “For far too long, insurance companies have employed sharp pricing tactics to lure in customers before hitting them with eye-watering price hikes and exorbitant premiums, so it is right that measures will finally be introduced to help put an end to these unfair practices.

“It is vital that the regulator keeps a close eye on insurance firms to ensure they don’t find new ways to exploit customers and should be ready to take further action where necessary.”

A personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Regular switchers will pay the price. “It’s something we’ve seen regularly from the FCA now, where efforts to protect the most vulnerable customers end up costing savvier consumers more.”

Charlotte Clark, director of regulation at the Association of British Insurers, said in an onlie statement: “Insurers support these reforms and will continue working closely with the FCA to ensure they are delivered effectively.

“While the FCA recognises their interventions could lead to price increases for consumers who regularly shop around, these remedies should ensure that all customers get fair outcomes from competitive insurance markets.

“It is vital that the new rules are applied across the whole insurance market, including price comparison websites and insurance brokers, with a uniform level of supervision and monitoring by the FCA, to ensure good customer outcomes.”