Agenda item

(Housing Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (C-015-2011/12).

(1)        That, following the previous Cabinet decision in November 2009, the work carried out by the temporary part-time Technical Officer post in the Private Sector Housing (Technical) Team since July 2010 be noted;

(2)        That, in order to maximise the significant potential income to the Council from the New Homes Bonus through bringing long-term empty properties back into use (estimated to be £210,000 over the next six years for 2010/11), the hours of the Technical Officer post be increased from 28 to 36 hours a week;

(3)        That the additional cost of approximately £6,500 per annum be funded by savings on the salaries budget until April 2013 and a Continuing Services Budget growth bid in the sum of approximately £32,610 be made to fund the post after April 2013;

(4)        That, in order to sustain the potential high level of income to the Council through the New Homes Bonus, the position be made permanent;

(5)        That, following the recent resignation of the current post-holder, the post be advertised externally if an internal appointment could not be made; and

(6)        That the Housing Scrutiny Panel be requested to review the work of the newly appointed Technical Officer and the number of empty properties brought back into use after a period of 12 months.

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented a report regarding the review of the Private Sector Housing Team. In November 2009, the Cabinet had agreed the addition of a part-time, temporary post in the Private Sector Housing (Technical) Team to assist with bringing empty properties back into use and to help with the licensing of the District’s park home sites (report reference C-052-2009/10). This was with the proviso that a report would be made annually to the Cabinet on the work undertaken by the post.

The Portfolio Holder reported that the Government had recently introduced the New Homes Bonus (NHB), which had been paid for the first time in April 2011, and was a means of rewarding local authorities for increasing housing supply.  The net gain in housing supply included empty homes brought back into use through Council intervention.  It was estimated that the Council would receive a reward of around £210,000 over 6 years, directly attributable to the number of empty properties brought back into use between October 2010 and October 2011.  Further reward would be received for each year thereafter.  

The Portfolio Holder stated that as a significant proportion of the empty properties brought back into use since 2010 could be directly attributed to the appointment of the Technical Officer, and in order to maximise the New Homes Bonus received on a continuing basis, it was recommended that the hours of the post be increased from 28 to 36 hours a week and that the current three year contract was made permanent with immediate effect. This would cost approximately £6,500 per annum (including on costs) for the remainder of the existing three year contract (until July 2013), to be met from savings on the Housing Directorate’s salaries budget and that an addition should be made to the Continuing Services Budget growth list of approximately £32,610 per annum to fund it thereafter. 

The Portfolio Holder concluded that, in the light of the recent resignation of the Officer and the likelihood that it would not be possible to find someone with suitable experience and qualifications within the Council to continue this work, permission should be granted to advertise the post externally if necessary. The additional income received from sustaining the New Homes Bonus income through these proposals, would considerably exceed the cost of the post.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance & Economic Development highlighted the financial benefit that the Council obtained from returning empty properties back into use, and the Cabinet felt that the work of the newly appointed Technical Officer should be reviewed by the Housing Scrutiny Panel one year after appointment, with an emphasis on the further empty properties within the District brought back into use.

Decision:

(1)        That, following the previous Cabinet decision in November 2009, the work carried out by the temporary part-time Technical Officer post in the Private Sector Housing (Technical) Team since July 2010 be noted;

(2)        That, in order to maximise the significant potential income to the Council from the New Homes Bonus through bringing long-term empty properties back into use (estimated to be £210,000 over the next six years for 2010/11), the hours of the Technical Officer post be increased from 28 to 36 hours a week;

(3)        That the additional cost of approximately £6,500 per annum be funded by savings on the salaries budget until April 2013 and a Continuing Services Budget growth bid in the sum of approximately £32,610 be made to fund the post after April 2013;

(4)        That, in order to sustain the potential high level of income to the Council through the New Homes Bonus, the position be made permanent;

(5)        That, following the recent resignation of the current post-holder, the post be advertised externally if an internal appointment could not be made; and

(6)        That the Housing Scrutiny Panel be requested to review the work of the newly appointed Technical Officer and the number of empty properties brought back into use after a period of 12 months.

Reasons for Decision:

The Cabinet had requested a report on the work of the new Technical Officer post following a review of the Private Sector Housing Team in November 2009.

The introduction of the New Homes Bonus by the Government provided a real financial incentive for councils to bring empty properties back into use.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

To continue the existing Technical Officer post at 28 hours a week for the remainder of the three year contact that would end in July 2013.  However, this would not fully maximise the potential financial gain to the Council through the New Homes Bonus.

To not make the post permanent. However, this would not enable the potential income from the New Homes Bonus to be maximised on an ongoing basis.

To not advertise externally if necessary. However, this would result in the post not being filled if an internal appointment could not be made, resulting in a significant loss of potential income for the Council from the New Homes Bonus.