Agenda item - A Housing Local Delivery Vehicle - For Decision

Report of the Director of Adult Social Care & Housing (copy attached).

23.1               Councillor Mears formerly moved the report and the recommendations.

23.2               Councillor Randall welcomed the report in principle and the intentions behind the proposed Local Delivery Vehicle.  He queried whether the leasing of up to 500 homes over 5 years would be achieved and whether the management would remain in the council’s control.  He also hoped that sustainability considerations would be at the heart of the improvement programme such as the use of renewables and water conservation.  He hoped that assurances would be given to tenants in terms of their position and relations with the council and felt that more questions would need to be answered to satisfy concerns held by tenants and councillors.

23.3               Councillor Simpson stated that she supported the proposal in principle but also felt that there was some work required to ease concerns.  She was unsure about the financial position and felt that further consultations were required with tenants as matters progressed as there had not been sufficient time to discuss issues prior to the report coming to council.  She therefore sought reassurance that the usual consultation mechanisms would be used and that the representations of the Housing Management Consultative Committee to the Cabinet on the 24^th September would be taken on board.

23.4               Councillor Caulfield stated that she was proud to present the report to council.  It had been the culmination of a great deal of work involving tenants, councillors and officers, and she wished to place on record her thanks to those officers involved.  The proposal to establish a Local delivery Vehicle had resulted from the withdrawal of finding by the Government following the tenants’ ‘no-vote’ to the question of stock transfer.  It was felt that this would provide the best means of raising finances to enable a programme of works to bring the council’s housing stock up to the Decent Homes Standard as a minimum.  She believed that there was a need to safeguard the position of tenants and to ensure that in today’s climate all tenants had a decent home to live in.  There would be no net loss to the housing stock or the leasing of secured tenancies as a result of the proposed Delivery Vehicle.  Should the council approve the recommendations, then it would be the start of the process and she would ensure all interested parties were involved in taking matters forward.

23.5               Councillor Elgood stated that there was a need to take action and the proposed Delivery Vehicle offered a way forward.  However, he held some concerns such as who would retain responsibility planning applications, would there be an opportunity for cross-party representation at the proposed Cabinet Sub-Committee, which was yet to be established, and how would overview & scrutiny be involved in the process.

23.6               Councillor Fryer welcomed the report and stated that she wished to echo the thanks given to the officers involved in bringing the matter forward.  She also had some questions with regard to nomination rights, leaseback arrangements, the question of charitable status and consultants’ fees, which she hoped could be addressed.

23.7               Members of the council welcomed the report and recognised the need to find a means whereby the shortfall in resources could be found to enable the housing stock to be brought up to the Decent Homes Standard.  Members noted that approval for the scheme from the Secretary of State was required and that a great deal of work had been undertaken since the no-vote in 2007.  It was recognised that further work was required to enable answers to be given to concerns raised and that close financial monitoring would be imperative.

23.8               Councillor Mears noted the comments and thanked the Members of the council for their indicative support to the proposed Delivery Vehicle.  She believed it offered a way forward and as Leader of the Council would ensure that there would be open and transparent consultation and decision-making throughout the process.  She confirmed that the council would retain 100% nomination rights and that break-clauses would be included in the agreement.  There were a number of options to be explored in terms of whether to use pubic or private investment, to seek charitable status etc. and these would need to be consulted on and discussed as the process developed.  However, approval of the recommendations had to be given and then approval sought from the Secretary of State before such matters could be addressed.  She was hopeful that approval would be given, officers had already explored the concept and held discussions with government officials and she wished to pay tribute to their work to date in that respect.  She also wished to personally thank the Chief Executive for his inspirational support in this matter.

23.9               The Mayor noted that the recommendations of the report had been moved and sought confirmation from the council.

23.10          The motion was carried.