Agenda item - Living Rent

Report of the Acting Executive Director, Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

1)            That the contents of the report be noted.

2)            That in order to consider how best Brighton & Hove City Council support truly affordable renting it is agreed that this report be referred to the Fairness Commission.

29.1   The Committee considered the report of the Acting Executive Director Environment, Development and Housing which outlined some of the key challenges and considerations when developing a Living Rent model.  The report was prepared in response to a public question concerning Living Rent calculations on new council housing being developed in the city.  The report was presented by the Head of Housing Strategy & Development.

29.2    Councillor Gibson proposed two alternative amendments to the       recommendations as follows:

          First amendment

          Amend the recommendations by adding 3 new clauses so they would        read:

          2.1 “That the Housing & New Homes Committee notes the contents of      this report” and add

          “2.2  A budget report outlining different HRA and HRA capital budget         options for wider consultation be prioritised for the November      Housing & New Homes Committee

          2.3  The November budget report should set out a proposed           budget          options consultation timetable with tenants which will include   consideration by Housing Area Panels.   

          2.4 That a working group of members from each group, officers and          tenant representatives be set up with immediate effect to review          apportionments of expenditure between the General Fund and the        Housing Revenue Account with a view to identifying changes and           consultation with tenants on about what their rent pays for.”

          Second amendment

          Amend recommendations by adding 1 new clause so they would read:

          2.1  the Housing & New Homes Committee notes the contents of this        report and add

          “2.2   In order to consider how best Brighton & Hove City Council support truly affordable renting it is proposed that this report be referred to the Fairness Commission”.

29.3   The Chair stated there was already a consultation process with tenants on their part of the budget.  Councillor Gibson replied that he was asking for this process to be brought forward.      

29.4    The Acting Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing explained that the budget was agreed by Policy & Resources Committee in July 2015.  This process had to be followed.  If members wanted a report which outlined the July budget, he could bring a report to the November Housing & New Homes Committee.  It was confirmed that the July P&R meeting had agreed both the housing general fund and the Housing Revenue Account budgets

29.5   The Chair stated that she was taking a decision as Chair not to accept the first amendment as all amendments should relate to the subject of a report.  However, the second amendment could be put to the vote.  The Chair asked if there was a seconder and Councillor MacCafferty seconded the amendment.

29.6    The Chair stressed that the budget was a Policy & Resources Committee decision and could not be challenged. The budget had been agreed and there was a proper process.  However there could be a report on the implications of the July budget on future budgets.

29.7    The Senior Lawyer confirmed that the Chair’s action was supported by the Procedural Rule 13.3 as set out in the Council’s constitution.  The budget was a Policy and Resources Committee function. 

29.8    The Chair stressed that there was already an existing consultation forum where the council had consulted with tenants very successfully for a number of years.  A new one would add to costs and would be adding to an existing forum.  

   .  

29.9    Councillor Gibson asked if the Housing & New Homes Committee had the right to set up a working group.  The Senior Lawyer explained that if the matter fell under the remit of the Policy & Resources Committee, then Housing & New Homes Committee did not have the power to set up a working group.     

29.10  Councillor Gibson asked if the Committee could comment on the budget.  The Chair replied that the Committee did help to set budgets through the existing lines of consultation.  However, Policy & Resources Committee and Full Council had the final responsibility for the budget. 

29.11  At this point Members voted on the second amendment as follows:

          Amend recommendations by adding 1 new clause so they would read:

2.1  the Housing & New Homes Committee notes the contents of this report and add

“2.2   In order to consider how best Brighton & Hove City Council support truly affordable renting it is proposed that this report be referred to the Fairness Commission”.

29.12  The above amendment was agreed

29.13  RESOLVED:-

(1)            That the contents of the report be noted.

(2)      That in order to consider how best Brighton & Hove City Council support truly affordable renting it is agreed that this report be referred to the Fairness Commission.