Councils have a key leadership role to play in the direct provision of new housing. They must also promote strategies to bring community interests together and break down barriers to create housing opportunities. Collaborative working between councils and housing providers should help to achieve the Government's aim of more housebuilding and increase income to preserve essential public sector services.

Councils and housing associations find themselves in a similar financial environment and not just because of the austerity measures. But as the old saying goes: ‘Two heads are better than one'.