Further to Minute No. 45, 17th July 2013, the Director of Resources and Housing submitted a report which provided an overview of the ‘Right to Buy’ Replacement Programme and which sought approval for funding contributions towards a number of affordable housing schemes being delivered by Registered Providers and the Third Sector.
Responding to a Member’s enquiry, officers undertook to provide the Member in question with information on the level of Section106 commuted sums that the Council had received arising from developments, which were ring fenced for affordable housing provision, together with details regarding geographic restrictions of where such sums could be spent.
In addition, responding to a Member’s enquiry, the Board received further information on the level of Right to Buy receipts which were allocated for the delivery of affordable housing and also received details of the difficulties which were experienced when allocating Right to Buy replacement funding on the provision of affordable housing, due to the regulations in place.
When considering the difficulties associated with the allocation of Right to Buy funding for the provision of affordable housing, it was noted that such matters had been acknowledged in the Government’s related Green Paper. It was highlighted that the consultation period for the Green Paper was ongoing and a response on behalf of the Council was being prepared. It was then undertaken that officers would share the proposed response with all Group Leaders and provide an opportunity to contribute to it prior to its submission.
Following the consideration of Appendix 2 to the submitted report designated as being exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3), which was considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting, it was
RESOLVED –
(a) That the contents of the submitted report, be noted;
(b) That approval be given to the use of ‘Right to Buy’ Replacement grant funding to deliver 50 new affordable housing units and enter into funding agreements for the schemes as listed at paragraph 3.6 of the submitted report and detailed in exempt Appendix 2;
(c) That the necessary authority be delegated to the Director of Resources & Housing to enable the Director to negotiate detailed terms and also to approve minor amendments to Right to Buy Replacement Programme grant funding allocations (within delegated authority powers).