Decision details

In principle approval for Town Hall Lettings to be supported from the General Fund from 2017-18.

Matter for Decision

The report followed on from the social lettings agency update report brought to this committee in January 2016, which set out the outcomes, direction of travel and business plan for Town Hall Lettings (THL), the Council’s social lettings agency. The January report highlighted the need to identify funding from April 2017 to retain THL, and this report aimed to update members on the outcomes and business plan so that officers can obtain ‘in principle’ approval to submit a budget bid to support the service from the General Fund from 2017-18.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing

     i.        Approve, in principle, the proposed business plan for Town Hall Lettings (THL), and support the inclusion of a budget bid as part of the 2017/18 budget setting process to meet the subsidy requirement, as outlined in Appendix 1 of the officer’s report – this would allow continuation of the service from April 2017. Continuation of the service would therefore be subject to approval of this budget bid at Council in February 2017.

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 Housing Advice Service Manager.

The Committee report sought clarification regarding financial forecast in the report.

The Housing Advice Service Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

     i.        Suggested that the report was based on cautious financial assumptions.

    ii.        Modest gains were expected from the Empty Properties initiative.

   iii.        The Social Lettings Agency staff had been on a learning curve and rent collection was improving.

The Committee resolved by 6 votes to 0 and 2 abstentions to endorse the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.