Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member is asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member was asked to declare any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests or any disclosable pecuniary interests which he had in the business on the agenda. No additional interest were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last Decision Session held on 20 November 2017.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2017 be approved and then signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Friday 15 December 2017.  Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the Executive Member’s remit.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officers for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission.  The broadcast can be viewed athttp://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts or, if recorded, this will be uploaded onto the Council’s website following the meeting.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officers (contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at

https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report proposes a strategy for acquiring properties under the council’s £5.52m Shared Ownership programme that was approved by the Executive on 18 May 2017.

Resolved: That the property acquisition strategy be considered and the following be approved:

·        That the Assistant Director of Housing and Community Safety in consultation with the Director of Customer and Corporate Services be given delegated authority to approve the purchase of homes for the programme.

·        For flexibility on the balance of the programme between homes delivered on new developments and those on the second hand market.

·        That dwellings be purchased by the council in advance of them being marketed and sold on as shared ownership homes.

Reason:

·        To enable a clear and appropriate level of scrutiny before approval is given for purchases of properties whilst also being within a timescale that will not put the council at a disadvantage in a competitive housing market.

·           To enable the council to meet its obligations with the Homes and Communities Agency to acquire at least 15 homes for the shared ownership programme by the end of the 2017/18 financial year.

·          To enable the council to take advantage of opportunities to purchase homes in advance of individual shared owners being identified for them.

The Executive Member considered a report that proposed a strategy for acquiring properties under the councils £5.52m Shared Ownership programme that was approved by Executive on 18 May 2017.

The Housing Strategy Manager gave an update and confirmed that, following the success in obtaining a funding award from the Homes and Communities Agency, the report outlined the approach that would be taken to acquiring property and the criteria in terms of the way in which the council would determine how those acquisitions were made.

The Executive Member was asked to approve the approach highlighted in the report and give delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Housing and Community Safety and the Director of Customer and Corporate Services to purchase properties in the future.

The Executive Member welcomed the new approach and officers’ proactive move towards purchasing homes in the future.

He thanked officers for their report and it was:

Resolved:

That the property acquisition strategy be considered and the following be approved:

·        That the Assistant Director of Housing and Community Safety in consultation with the Director of Customer and Corporate Services be given delegated authority to approve the purchase of homes for the programme.

·        That flexibility on the balance of the programme between homes delivered on new developments and those on the second hand market

·        That dwellings be purchased by the council in advance of them being marketed and sold on as shared ownership homes.

Reason:

·        To enable a clear and appropriate level of scrutiny before approval is given for purchases of properties whilst also being within a timescale that will not put the council at a disadvantage in a competitive housing market.

·           To enable the council to meet its obligations with the Homes and Communities Agency to acquire at least 15 homes for the shared ownership programme by the end of the 2017/18 financial year.

·          To enable the council to take advantage of opportunities to purchase homes in advance of individual shared owners being identified for them.