Issue - meetings
Proactive Delivery of Affordable Housing
Meeting: 07/12/2023 - Cabinet (Item 203)
203 Proactive Delivery of Affordable Housing 
PDF 115 KB
Purpose
This report seeks to outline the council’s aspiration for a more proactive approach to increase the supply of affordable housing within the district, outline of how this can be achieved, and the resources required.
Recommendation
That Cabinet resolves to:
1. Agree to explore innovative and proactive models to enhance the council’s ability to increase the supply of affordable homes within the district.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The purpose of the report was to outline the Council’s aspiration for a more proactive approach to increasing the supply of affordable housing within the district, outline how this can be achieved, and the resources required.
The Leader Councillor Joe Harris introduced the report and outlined the following points:
· The Leader noted the ambition of the administration to deliver affordable housing and social rented homes within the District.
· It was noted that good progress is being made with a council site in Down Ampney for social rented homes schemes working in partnership with Bromford Housing.
· It was highlighted that whilst the Council did not have its own housing stock, the report was seeking other options to deliver upon the strategy to obtain high quality affordable homes.
· It was noted that the employment of a Strategic Housing and Development officer in partnership with West Oxfordshire District Council would help to deliver these aims in partnership with housing organisations.
· It was also noted the waiting lists for social housing show a need for housing within the District.
There were questions around the identification of empty homes and work with private landlords to deliver affordable homes. The Leader noted that the powers of the Council were limited, but that the Council would seek to work with private landlords to develop affordable housing in communities. On the issue of empty homes, it was noted that the new officer would work to develop an action plan on empty homes.
The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Joe Harris and seconded by Councillor Spivey.
RESOLVED: That Cabinet
1. AGREED to explore innovative and proactive models to enhance the council’s ability to increase the supply of affordable homes within the district.
Record of Voting – For: 8, Against 0, Abstention 0, Absent: 0
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For |
Against |
Abstain |
Absent/Did not vote |
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Claire Bloomer |
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Joe Harris |
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Juliet Layton |
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Lisa Spivey |
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Mike Evemy |
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Mike McKeown |
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Paul Hodgkinson |
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Tony Dale |
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Meeting: 28/11/2023 - Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 9)
9 Proactive Delivery of Affordable Housing PDF 116 KB
Purpose
This report seeks to outline the council’s aspiration for a more proactive approach to increase the supply of affordable housing within the district, outline of how this can be achieved, and the resources required.
Recommendations:
That Cabinet resolves to:
1. Note the suggestions to explore more innovative and proactive models to enhance the Council’s ability to increase the supply of affordable homes within the district.
Invited
Cllr Joe Harris, Leader of the Council
Charlie Jackson, Assistant Director for Planning and Sustainability
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Leader introduced the item.
The purpose of the item was to outline the Council’s aspiration for a more proactive
approach to increase the supply of affordable housing within the district, outline of how this can be achieved, and the resources required.
The Leader stated reported to the Committee that a senior officer to drive the housing level at a strategic level would be employed. The Leader hoped that this would provide more in-house expertise in this area, which was a Council priority
Members discussed the recommendation, which was ‘to note’ the report. Members highlighted that it is generally not the role of Cabinet to note reports, and that the Cabinet recommendations should highlight this. The Leader stated that the Officer would remove the “note the suggestion to” in the report.
The Committee discussed the definition of affordable housing, as it was highlighted that there are many types. The Leader stated that the form of affordable housing that the Council was aiming to deliver was tenure blind social rented housing. The Leader also stated that there needed to be more state built affordable housing, with the long term aspiration being for the Council to build housing.
RESOLVED: To note the Cabinet report.
The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Jenkinson and seconded by Councillor Turner.
For- 7, Against 0, Abstentions 0
OS.10Q2 Performance Report
The Chief Executive Officer introduced the report, and provided highlights, including;
- Work had been undertaken on transitioning services from the GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership, including the funding of the growth hub.
- Another round of the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme had been undertaken, to deliver food and activities for eligible children across the district over the holidays.
- The Collaboration Agreement entered into by the Council and Bromford Housing to deliver the Down Ampney housing development had been delayed due to drainage concerns, but progress was now underway with drawings approved by members and a Planning Application due to be submitted in November.
- “Spotlight on Planning" Town & Parish Council Forum events were held during September in Cirencester and Moreton in Marsh.
Members discussed the report and raised the following points, which the Chief Executive Officer stated written responses would be provided to;
- ‘Deliver our Climate Change Action Plan’ was considered to be off-target, but did not contain an update, could this be provided?
- On the asset management strategy, the report stated that costs were being finalised with the consultant, Members asked for more details on this cost.
- The ‘Make My House Green’ scheme was considered to be a success, what were the KPIs and the business arrangement with MakeMyHouseGreen regarding any discounts offered or fees paid to CDC?
- Who were the the installers for the EV charging points?
- ‘Work with Ubico to adopt ultra-low emission vehicle technology’, as the delivery of this was constrained by the technology available, should the action be removed?
- Further details were requested on the ecological emergency work, in relation to what this included?
- More details in the narrative were requested generally, ... view the full minutes text for item 9