Issue - meetings

This report sets out details of the Council’s ambitions to build new council homes as part of the Get York Building (GYB) initiative. It  seeks approval to pursue development of a number of sites within the Housing Revenue Account to build between 50 and 70 new homes. 

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet agree:

i)             Option 2, to the building of 50 to 70 new council homes on the sites identified in the report, with delegated responsibility to the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services to approve any alternative sites following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health, Housing, and Adult Social Services, should those identified be unable to progress.

ii)            The inclusion of an element of market housing at Beckfield Lane

iii)          The identified procurement routes, with delegated authority to the Cabinet Member to approve any revisions.

iv)          Additional project management resources required to deliver the project

REASON:        i)            To allow the council to add a significant number of homes to its existing asset base and help to alleviate the acute housing need in the city, and ensure that should one of the identified sites not progress an alternative can be pursued without delaying the project.

           ii)        To ensure a mix of tenures to allow a mixed and sustainable community and to provide cross subsidy to help fund the project.

           iii)       To allow officers to progress with the identified procurement processes to achieve the delivery timescale, and to ensure that any revisions to the identified process do not lead to delays related to achieving cabinet approval.

iv)          To allow the successful delivery of the project without impacting on the wider Housing Development Team work plan by ensuring the appropriate level of resources.

Consideration was given to a report which set out proposals to deliver the first phase of new council homes and sought approval for the council to pursue development of a number of sites within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) to build between 50 and 70 new homes.

The Cabinet Member outlined the report and advised that the Council needed to improve its housing stock level to address the high level of housing need in the city. The sites indentified in the report as suitable for development were sites within the councils own portfolio and the Beckfield Lane site would be the first to come forward.

Details of the funding route was outlined at paragraphs 14 to 16 of the report, including the use of £1million of commuted sums that were ring fenced for the delivery of affordable housing.

The registered speakers comments from earlier in the meeting were noted and the Cabinet Member advised that all sites would be subject to public consultation and the planning process.

Following further discussion it was:

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet agree:

(i)           Option 2, to the building of 50 to 70 new council homes on the sites identified in the report, with delegated responsibility to the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services to approve any alternative sites following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health, Housing, and Adult Social Services, should those identified be unable to progress. ¹

(ii)          The inclusion of an element of market housing at Beckfield Lane. ²

(iii)        The identified procurement routes, with delegated authority to the Cabinet Member to approve any revisions. ³

(iv)        Additional project management resources required to deliver the project. ⁴

REASON:            i)        To allow the council to add a significant number of homes to its existing asset base and help to alleviate the acute housing need in the city, and ensure that should one of the identified sites not progress an alternative can be pursued without delaying the project.

           ii)        To ensure a mix of tenures to allow a mixed and sustainable community and to provide cross subsidy to help fund the project.

           iii)       To allow officers to progress with the identified procurement processes to achieve the delivery timescale, and to ensure that any revisions to the identified process do not lead to delays related to achieving cabinet approval.

iv)          To allow the successful delivery of the project without impacting on the wider Housing Development Team work plan by ensuring the appropriate level of resources.