Agenda item

Matter for Decision:  

The report provided details of the proposed redevelopment of the final three sites that, together, will complete the investment of the £2.6 million capital grant from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) by the end of March 2015 to provide 146 new Affordable Housing dwellings (the 146 Programme). The three sites were all garage sites. A fourth site had been included in the report that involved the potential redevelopment of a disused drying area. The proposal for the fourth site is related to the Council’s development of land at Clay Farm and involves the provision of two new houses to at least Level 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes as prototypes for the Clay Farm development.

 

The report highlighted that in addition to the use of the HCA grant there was the opportunity to invest capital receipts from the Right to Buy (RTB) programme.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing:

 

The Executive Councillor resolved, for each of the following:

 

a. 301 to 326 Hawkins Road Garages.

b. 11 to 45 Ekins Road Garages

c. Fulbourn Road Garages

d. Disused Drying Area at Anstey Way

 

to:

 

     i.        Approve the continuation of site feasibility work, noting the indicative schemes and the tenure mix options.

 

    ii.        Approve that delegated authority be given to the Director of Customer and Community Services following consultation with the Director of Resources (or any equivalent successor post),  Executive Councillor for Housing, Chair and Spokes to agree a final scheme and budget for each site based on the tenure mix that optimises the use of HCA and RTB receipts for the HRA Business Plan. 

 

   iii.        Approve that delegated authority be given to the Director of Customer and Community Services following consultation with the Director of Resources (or any equivalent successor post) and the Head of Legal Services to seal a Development Agreement with the Council’s preferred house-builder/developer partners.

 

 

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 Strategic Housing regarding the Council New Build Programme. He highlighted the inclusion potential grant from the Homes and Communities Agency and Right to Buy receipts in the decision and the need for flexibility. Members noted the following correction to the recommendations where appropriate : that consultation shoud be with the Director of Resources (or any equivalent successor post)

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report.

 

     i.        The possibility of delivering the plan with a higher than expected proportion of Council Housing was welcomed.

    ii.        The Committee welcomed the savings to be achieved by allowing two properties to be built as prototypes for the Clay Farm development.

   iii.        The plans in place to work with future residents on how to get the best results from the Code 5 features of their homes were welcomed.

  iv.        Members were assured that the properties would be allocated using the standard Homelink process. However, potential residents, both owner occupiers and tenants, would be made aware that their utility bills would be monitored for an initial period.

   v.        Members were concerned that internal storage would be sacrificed in order to accommodate code 5 technology. Officers stated that the design features of the house used passive measures to achieve energy savings rather than technology.

  vi.        Members questioned the demand for one bedroom properties and how future demand was assessed. A member briefing on future housing needs was suggested.

 

The Committee resolved unanimously to endorse the amended recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.