Terms of Reference for Co-operative Housing Task & Finish Group

1. Purpose

1.1 To examine the potential role of co-operative housing in addressing Brighton & Hove's housing challenges, including affordability, housing supply and housing insecurity. The Group will explore the benefits of co-operative housing, identify barriers to its growth, consider lessons from successful schemes in the UK and internationally, and assess what practical steps the council could take to support and expand co-operative housing as part of the city's housing offer.

1.2 The group will develop a report with recommendations that will be presented to the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee for agreement. Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee can decide to further refer the Task & Finish Group report recommendations to Cabinet and/or partners for consideration.

2. Status

2.1 The Task & Finish Group is an informal group that will report to the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

3. Areas of focus

3.1 The report will focus on the following areas:

· To explore what practical and realistic actions the council could take to enable the growth of co-operative housing and maximise its contribution to addressing housing need in the city

· To understand how successful co-operative housing models operate in the UK and internationally

· To identify barriers that prevent the creation and expansion of co-operative housing schemes locally and what support could be put in place to help

· To explore how legal, governance and funding processes could be simplified or standardised to support new co-operatives

· To see what funding opportunities are available through government, external organisations and the co-operative sector itself

· To explore how to raise awareness of co-operative housing, particularly among younger people and those seeking affordable housing.

· To see how the council can facilitate organisation of potential co-op groups and bring them together.

· To speak with other councils in the UK who have successfully supported co-operative housing in their area

· To speak with successful co-operative housing organisations both in the city and beyond

4. Scope

4.1 The Task & Finish Group will consider the current and potential role of co-operative housing in Brighton & Hove, including its contribution to affordable housing provision, community development and housing security. The review will examine barriers to the establishment and growth of co-operative housing, opportunities to expand the sector through new and existing housing stock, available funding and support mechanisms, and the council's potential role in facilitating and enabling growth. The Group will also gather evidence from successful co-operative housing organisations, local authorities and sector experts to identify good practice and potential recommendations for Brighton & Hove.

5. Membership

5.1. Voting Members: Groups will be offered membership as follows: 3 Labour, 1 Green, 1 Conservative, 1 BH Ind or Independent member.

5.2. Non-voting members: Anyone with an interest in this issue may be co-opted on to the TFG.

5.3. Any non-executive member may sit on a Task & Finish Group.

6. Meetings

6.1. Meetings will be chaired by the Chair of the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee who will be responsible for convening meetings of the Task & Finish Group.

6.2. The Group will meet on a basis to be determined by Group members.

7. Timeline

7.1 The Task & Finish Group report on Co-operative Housing will be presented to the Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee at its meeting in March 2027[NS1] [2] [NS3]