Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of City Development which provides an update on the progress being made in delivering the Council’s direct housing delivery programme, proposes the introduction of several additional sites and sets out proposals for revised and updated principles for rent setting and viability appraisal of schemes.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which provided an update on the progress being made with regard to the Council’s direct housing delivery programme. In addition, the report proposed the introduction of several additional sites and set out proposals for revised and updated principles for rent setting and viability appraisal of schemes.

In presenting the report, the Executive Member provided an update on the progress being made in the delivery of Council housing across the city and the key aspects of the growth programme.

Members discussed the high level of demand which continued to exist for Council housing and considered the performance of the Authority and the approach it was taking in the delivery of Council house provision across the city.

Responding to a Member’s specific enquiry, the Board received an update regarding the Oldfield Lane site, as referenced in the programme summary within appendix 1 to the report.

With regard to the Richmond House site within Calverley and Farsley Ward, clarification was provided by the Executive Member who represented that Ward on the specific proposals he would be supportive of, as they differed from what had been outlined within the report. Such comments were acknowledged and officers undertook to keep Ward Members updated on progress in relation to this site.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the progress made in delivering the Council Housing Growth Programme, as detailed within the submitted report, be noted;

(b)  That the addition of the sites presented in Table 2 to the submitted report as a key decisionto meet the needs of the programme, be approved, with it being noted that subsequent procurement and contract approvals will be approved by the Director of City Development under the Council’s existing approved scheme of delegation;

(c)  That the revised rent setting principles, the approach to determining scheme viability for new homes, as set out within the submitted report, and those proposed for acquisitions and the extra care housing programme, be approved;

(d)  That the proposed realignment of acquisition funds to enable the Council’s property buyback programme to continue for a further 2-3 years, as detailed within the report, be noted.