Issue - meetings

(Housing Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (C-058-2014/15).

(1)        That the Development Strategy, attached at Appendix 1 of the report, be approved with specific attention drawn to the following:

            (a)        starting with the Phase 2 developments, Code 4 of the Code for Sustainable          Homes be adopted by the Council as its standard for sustainable design;

            (b)        the prioritisation of potential sites taken forward for development under the             Council’s Housebuilding Programme be spread around the towns/villages where sites          were located, on a rotational basis, so that all locations would have the benefit of             affordable housing being provided in their area with priority for the development of           potential sites given to areas in which the highest number of housing applicants lived;

            (c)        Affordable Rents continue to be charged by the Council for all new Council            homes built under the programme, with the Council’s Rent Cap remaining at £180 per            week;

            (d)        should any of the development sites identified for Council housebuilding not be      developable then the best options to determine the       future use of the site be considered   by the Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee;

            (e)        the Housebuilding Programme be accelerated in order to ensure that all 1-4-1       Receipts from Right to Buy sales were spent within the required 3 years of receipt; and

            (f)         the naming of developments would be carried out in consultation with local            Ward Members, as well as Town and Parish Councils.

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented a report on the Development Strategy for the Council Housebuilding Programme, and advised the Cabinet that recommendation 1(a) should be amended to remove any reference to Burton Road in Loughton as this potential development had been refused planning permission.

The Portfolio Holder reported that, since its formation in March 2013, the Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee had considered a number of policies that had shaped the way the Council was delivering new affordable housing across the District as part of the Council Housebuilding Programme; all of which had been captured in the Development Strategy that was agreed by the Cabinet in September 2013. Since then, a number of new and amended policies had been developed and incorporated in the updated Development Strategy that had been considered by the Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee at its meeting in December 2014

The Portfolio Holder advised the Cabinet of the principal changes to the Development Strategy, which included; the adoption of Code 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes as its standard for sustainable design, where energy efficiency measures would take a higher priority; the development of affordable housing within all settlements across the District; affordable rents to be charged for all new Council homes with the Rent Cap remaining at £180 per week; the acceleration of the Council Housebuilding Programme to ensure that all 1-4-1 Right to Buy receipts were expended within the required three years; the naming of developments to be consulted on with ward Members and local Councils; and the Cabinet Committee to consider further options should any potential site prove not to be developable.

The Portfolio Holder explained that monies received from Section 106 Agreements with Developers could be used directly for Housebuilding Programmes, but 1-4-1 capital receipts from Right to Buy sales were time limited in their use and hence were spent first. If they were not spent within three years then they would have to be passed back to the Government, but they could also be used to purchase properties on the open market. However, it was the Portfolio Holder’s preference to use the receipts to build properties rather than buy properties, as this offered much better value for money since the Council owned the land.

The Portfolio Holder reiterated that the Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee would consider the recent refusal of planning permission for the proposed development at Burton Road in Loughton. Although it was noted that the Council risked losing the grant monies from the Homes & Communities Agency if there were severe delays to the project. The Cabinet welcomed the adoption of Code 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The Assistant Director (Housing Property and Development) added that the Council had adopted the East Thames Design Standards which met or exceeded the Essex Design Standards.

The Leader of the Council declared that it was important for the Council to build homes which people wanted to live in, as the Council had a substantial waiting list of local people waiting to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 126

(Director of Communities) To consider the attached report (CHB-013-2014/15).

(1)        That the Development Strategy update, formulated by the Council’s Development Agent in conjunction with Council Officers, be considered; and

(2)        That the Housebuilding Cabinet Committee recommends to the Cabinet that the Development Strategy update be approved.

The Assistant Director of Housing (Property) presented a report to the Cabinet Committee he advised that within the Terms of Reference of the Housebuilding Cabinet Committee, it stated that the Committee would consider and recommend to the Cabinet the Development Strategy for the Council’s House-building Programme on an annual basis. East Thames, as part of their appointment, were required to prepare the Development Strategy on behalf of the Council and update it annually.

The Cabinet Committee were asked to recommend the contents of the Development Strategy as set out in Appendix 1 of the Agenda and to recommend its approval to the Cabinet.

Decision:

(1)        That the Development Strategy update, formulated by the Council’s Development Agent in conjunction with Council Officers, be considered; and

(2)        That the Housebuilding Cabinet Committee recommends to the Cabinet that the Development Strategy update be approved.

Reasons for Decision:

Approval of the Development Strategy remains the responsibility of the Cabinet. However the Housebuilding Cabinet Committee is required to consider and then recommend its approval to the Cabinet.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

Not to adopt the contents of the Strategy in the format presented and alter any of its statements, targets, standards, procedures or assumptions.