Issue - items at meetings - Housing Investment

Report of the Strategic Director, Place (copy attached).

Contact Officer: Judi Wilson                       Tel: 29-3143

1. That the Committee agree to the procurement of a delivery partner to take forward the final feasibility, design and development of new council homes on vacant garage sites in consultation with stakeholders, utilising a range of housing options based on Low Cost Home ownership, Affordable rents and Target Rents. Once full schemes were developed they would be reported to Housing Committee.

2. That the procurement of initial feasibility and design, on identified case studies for housing opportunities on Housing Revenue Account land, where appropriate at an estimated cost, including stakeholder engagement and consultation, of £1 million.

3. That the Committee note the current timetable for the development of the garage sites in paragraph 4.20 of the report and for development of feasibility studies in paragraph 4.27 of the report.

22.1 The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director Place, which provided information on the funding and delivery strategy for the development of new and improved affordable housing on council owned Housing Revenue Account (HRA) land.

22.2 Councillor Farrow welcomed the report, but had concerns over the time lines given and the costs involved, particularly those of the consultants and the design and feasibility studies.  Officers advised that the timelines would certainly be looked at. With regard to costs, the figures provided in the report were ballpark amounts, and as the scheme progressed the costs would be become more detailed and accurate. Consultants needed to be used, and if there were an in-house team there would still be a significant cost implication.

22.3 Councillor Mears said that this matter had been started under the previous administration, and felt that the matter hadn’t been taken forward any further. Officers confirmed that the matter was progressing and previous work undertaken had been incorporated into the report. Councillor Mears stated that £5m had previously been put aside and asked where that amount now was. It was confirmed that it was in the HRA Capital Account.

22.4 Councillor Hawtree thanked officers for the report, and welcomed the opportunity for more affordable housing. 

22.5 Councillor Peltzer Dunn thanked officers for the report, and felt that whilst 29 units was not a large number it would make a difference. Councillor Peltzer Dunn had a number of concerns; he referred to paragraph 4.17 and suggested that as the developments would be over nine sites, it may be difficult to reduce costs through economies of scale. Paragraph 4.12 stated that Cabinet had approved £0.675m for preparing vacant council owned garage sites for development, and he asked how much of that amount was left. Paragraph 4.20 provided a schedule for taking the garage site development scheme forward and said that a planning application would be submitted in April 2014 with anticipated on site construction commencing in July 2014. Councillor Peltzer Dunn suggested that was unrealistic. Officers agreed with the points made, and said that more detailed costs and timelines would be provided in due course. With regard to the funding, £375k had been spent. A more detailed written response would be provided.

22.6 Councillor Fitch said that many Brown Field sites in the city had been identified, and asked why those sites were not being used before other locations. The Chair said that the issue of Brown Field sites could be considered at a future meeting of the Housing Committee.

227. RESOLVED

1. That the Committee agree to the procurement of a delivery partner to take forward the final feasibility, design and development of new council homes on vacant garage sites in consultation with stakeholders, utilising a range of housing options based on Low Cost Home ownership, Affordable rents and Target Rents. Once full schemes were developed they would be reported to Housing Committee.

2. That the procurement of initial feasibility and design, on identified case studies for housing opportunities on Housing Revenue Account land, where appropriate at an estimated cost, including stakeholder engagement and consultation, of £1 million.

3. That the Committee note the current timetable for the development of the garage sites in paragraph 4.20 of the report and for development of feasibility studies in paragraph 4.27 of the report.