Agenda item

This report provides Members with a review of the package of measures and interventions made under the Get York Building agenda and considers the impact these have had on helping to stimulate house building and construction activity in the city. The report proposes a series of further interventions and priorities for the coming year.

Resolved:  That Cabinet agree Option One, as set out in the report, to: 

i)             Note and approve the updates on the first year of the Get York Building project.

ii)            Support the proposed future work plan priorities to March 2015, as outlined in paragraph 88 of the report, with the Get York Building Board overseeing their delivery, and reporting to Cabinet where necessary for decisions and approval.

iii)          Agree to the continued programme support through the provision of a project manager.

Reason:     On the basis that the Get York Building Board have considered and ‘signed off’ the proposed work plan this option will enable the project to focus on the most important priorities for the coming year. 

Members considered an update to a February 2013 Cabinet report which had examined the barriers to house building and the part the Council could play in helping to support conditions to stimulate residential housing development.

The update provided Cabinet with a review of the package of measures and interventions made under the Get York Building agenda and their impact on helping to stimulate house building and construction in the city. The report included details of infrastructure investment to unlock major developments, a reduction of affordable housing targets, a review of affordable housing clauses and investment in existing council homes and opportunities for investment to deliver private rented homes in the city. Further information on new council house building, a mortgage advice scheme, a review of barriers to development and the city centre living project were also reported. A further series of interventions and priorities for the next 12 months relating to the Get York Building initiative to support the continuation of the work had been agreed with the Get York Building Board.

Consideration was given to the following options:

Option One:

·         Note and approve the updates on the first year of the Get York Building project.

·         Support the proposed future work plan priorities to March 2015 as outlined in paragraph 88 with the Get York Building Board overseeing their delivery, and reporting to Cabinet where necessary for decisions and approval.

·         Agree to the continued programme support through the provision of a project manager.

Option Two:

·        Note and approve the updates on the first year of the Get York Building project.

·        Amend the proposed future work plan priorities of the project to March 2015 with the Get York Building Board overseeing their delivery, and reporting to Cabinet where necessary for decisions and approval.

·        Agree to the continued programme support through the provision of a project manager.

The Cabinet Member presented the report highlighting the increase in housing planning consents, presented at Table 5, which, if continued at the present level, would exceed the previous highest level during 2007/8. He also referred to the consents for student cluster flats thereby reducing pressure on family housing and decreasing the number of Council Tax exempt properties.

The Leader welcomed the report and expressed his commitment to the Get York Building initiative. He drew attention to the issue of sufficiency of school places and the need for co-ordination with the relevant council departments.

Resolved:           That Cabinet agree Option One, as set out in the report, to: 

i)             Note and approve the updates on the first year of the Get York Building project.

ii)            Support the proposed future work plan priorities to March 2015, as outlined in paragraph 88 of the report, with the Get York Building Board overseeing their delivery, and reporting to Cabinet where necessary for decisions and approval.

iii)          Agree to the continued programme support through the provision of a project manager. ^1.

Reason:     On the basis that the Get York Building Board have considered and ‘signed off’ the proposed work plan this option will enable the project to focus on the most important priorities for the coming year.