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Decision details

Update on the Programme to Build new Council Homes Funded Through the Combined Authority

Decision Maker: Executive Councillor for Housing and Homelessness

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

Update on delivery of the 500 Council Housing Programme.

Decision:

Matter for Decision

The report provides an update on the programme to deliver 500 Council homes with funding from the Combined Authority.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing

      i.         Noted the continued progress on the delivery of the Combined Authority programme.

    ii.         Noted the funding structure for the Combined Authority programme.

   iii.         Noted the risks and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the programme.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Head of Housing Development.

 

In response to the report the Committee commented that it was disappointing that the Kingswat project was delayed by UK Power Network (UKPN). The Strategic Director (FB) explained that these delays were unavoidable as UKPN were dealing with Covid 19 emergency works. Council staff were currently working on new ways to engage with them to ease the progress of future projects. The Head of Maintenance and Assets explained as this was a refurbishment the issues with the cabling were not known before works started.

 

In response to a question about the risk ratings in the report the Head of Housing Development explained that these related to the specifics on the projects not the overall programme which even with potential for delays was low risk in terms of achieving the March 2022 SOS target for the funding.

 

The Head of Housing Development said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.         Confirmed that the first Housing Pods to ease rough sleeping are to be installed across three sites around Cambridge. Four more Pods were available and would be installed as soon as suitable sites had been identified.

    ii.         Suggested that staff would be monitoring how the Pods worked for individual users.

 

The Committee resolved by 5 votes to 0 and 3 abstentions to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.

 

 

Publication date: 20/08/2020

Date of decision: 23/06/2020