Council and councillors

Report No: 68/2020

(KEY DECISION)

1.     Cabinet approved the priorities of single persons or childless couple’s accommodation and five and six-bedroomed properties in section 3 of this report

2.     Cabinet approved an affordable housing commuted sum allocation of £932,400

3.     Cabinet authorised the Strategic Director of Places to undertake a bidding process for grant applications from housing associations and from within the Council, setting out in a separate document for bidders the priorities in section 3, other lower priority bids that may be accepted and the details of the scoring matrix to be used by the Council

4.     Cabinet authorised the Strategic Director of Places to hold informal discussions with the bidders if appropriate

5.     Cabinet requested that the Strategic Director of Places bring a further report to Cabinet on the outcome of the bidding process and recommending a way forward, including proposed budget recommendations for the capital programme.

Councillor Walters as the relevant Portfolio Holder, elaborated on his report and explained that officers had examined the current situation regarding the Council’s housing register (waiting list).

The Council had been given the opportunity to look at the bidding priorities and in response to questions asked, Councillor Walters explained that the Council would continue to support young families in line with the Corporate Plan and noted that the definition of a traditional ‘family’ had changed significantly in recent years.

Councillor Stephenson commented that she was very much in favour of the recommendations as she considered them to be evidence and needs based.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the priorities of single persons or childless couple’s accommodation and five and six-bedroomed properties in section 3 of the report be approved.

2.     That an affordable housing commuted sum allocation of £932,400 be approved.

3.     That the Strategic Director of Places be authorised to undertake a bidding process for grant applications from housing associations and from within the Council, setting out in a separate document for bidders the priorities in section 3 of the report, other lower priority bids that may be accepted and the details of the scoring matrix to be used by the Council

4.     That the Strategic Director of Places be authorised to hold informal discussions with the bidders if appropriate

5.     That the Strategic Director of Places be requested bring a further report to Cabinet on the outcome of the bidding process and recommending a way forward, including proposed budget recommendations for the capital programme.

Reason for decision:

The proposals in the report would enable affordable housing commuted sums to be spent to meet a range of local housing need and to achieve value for money.