THE Department of Social Care's recent annual housing conference focused on the main strategic challenges facing public sector housing.

The event took place last week at the Mount Murray Hotel and Country Club, Santon, and was well attended by local housing authorities.

Social Care Minister Martyn Quayle MHK said: "The annual housing conference is an opportunity for the local housing authorities to get together, share ideas and best practice.

"This is particularly relevant this year given the need to address the strategic challenges the public housing sector faces in coming years - such as increasing demand, limited funding and rising expectations.

"The housing review that I have commissioned is now underway and the conference was an opportunity to get local housing authorities involved in the first stages of the project by seeking their ideas and opinions on public sector housing.

"It was an interesting day for all involved, which was well attended by the local housing authorities.

"The morning presentations, including a guest speaker from Guernsey, were both useful and informative and the afternoon workshops gave the opportunity for people to actively get involved by putting their ideas forward."