1. “Madam chairmen fellow members, currently council’s do not know definitively and easily how many veterans live within their respective boundaries that is why I am requesting permission from the council to jointly with leader write to the minister pledging the council’s support to the Royal British Legion count them in campaign where by a question would be placed on the census asking people if they are a veteran. The ONS have confirmed their intention to recommend its inclusion. However, support for this campaign needs to continue to ensure it is included in the next census. This would enable the council to know without any doubt how many veterans are within our district so that we can provide them and their families with the support they need and deserve we counted on them now it’s time we counted them in.
I so move”
Councillor Thomas Smith
2. “Council notes:
· The contents of the Smith Institute report into Local Housing Companies and its summary[1].
o http://www.smith-institute.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/The-rise-of-local-housing-companies.pdf
o http://www.smith-institute.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/LHCs-Summary-Report.pdf
· That the Corporate Plan first theme (Open for Business) supports housing led economic growth to deliver:
o West Lindsey as a place of choice to live
o A sustainable and thriving economy
o Sustainable neighbourhoods
Further, that the second theme (People First) supports meeting local housing needs and aspirations to ensure that residents can live, grow and remain in the District.[2]
Council believes that:
· Having handed over the Council Housing stock to ACIS the Council is not in a position to develop the amount of housing needed to meet current and future demand in the district and that with limited appetite from the private sector to deliver affordable homes there may be opportunity for the Council to intervene in the market, whilst not detracting from private enterprises efforts.
· The benefits of developing a Local Housing Company are:
o Socio-Economic
§ Council can control the direction of housing provision and tenure: increasing supply and tenure mix, especially affordable homes, with the Council as master developer
§ Meet specific housing needs: low income residents, elderly, students, homeless, key workers etc.
§ Act as an innovator: trying different development models and tenure mix
§ Greater accountability and scrutiny than other housing providers
§ Exemption from HCA/government regulations and standards
o Financial
§ Generates income for the Council: directly through on-lending, property investment and rental/sales income and through additional New Homes Bonus, Community Infrastructure Levy and additional Council Tax receipts
§ Savings to the Council: providing lower cost temporary accommodation and providing cheaper housing maintenance and other services
§ Greater borrowing capacity to meet housing needs (escaping HRA debt/borrowing caps)
§ Securing additional private investment in housing and regeneration
§ Securing better value for Council assets than conventional disposal
§ Receptacle for communted sums from S.106 agreements
§ Public procurement advantages
o Place-shaping
§ Intervening and influencing local housing markets: to achieve, support and encourage development
§ Bring forward development: unimplemented consents and provided scale for local construction/suppliers
§ Making best use of Council land: alternative to disposal of site to private developers
§ Stetting higher standards: the Council as an exemplary private landlord, improving design and eco-homes
Council resolves to:
· Mandate Officers to investigate and prepare for the establishment of a Local Housing Company and bring forward a paper to the Prosperous Communities Committee prior to the 2018 Annual Meeting of Full Council
· Make necessary provision of resources to achieve this aim
· Ensure that as part of the refresh of the Corporate Plan consideration is given to supporting the development of affordable housing within the district directly by the Council, with particular reference to the mechanism of a Local Housing Company
I so move”
Cllr. Stuart Kinch
Cllr. Mrs. Sheila Bibb
Cllr. Ian Fleetwood
Cllr. Giles McNeill
Minutes:
Councillor Tom Smith had submitted the following Motion: -
"Madam chairmen fellow members, currently councils do not know definitively and easily how many veterans live within their respective boundaries that is why I am requesting permission from the Council to jointly with the Leader write to the minister pledging the council’s support to the Royal British Legion count them in campaign whereby a question would be placed on the census asking people if they are a veteran. The ONS have confirmed their intention to recommend its inclusion. However, support for this campaign needs to continue to ensure it is included in the next census. This would enable the council to know without any doubt how many veterans are within our district so that we can provide them and their families with the support they need and deserve we counted on them now it’s time we counted them in.
I so move”
Councillor Jeff Summers, as Leader of the Council, responded as follows: -
"Thank you for raising this Councillor Smith. I agree with your thoughts and I believe it will helpful to us to learn more about our communities. We assume that there are large number of ex service personnel living within the district but we do not currently know how many.
It is therefore a pleasure for me to second this motion.”
Having being moved and seconded, with no debate on being put to the vote the Motion was declared CARRIED.
Councillors Stuart Kinch, Giles McNeill, Sheila Bibb and Ian Fleetwood had submitted the following Motion. Councillor Kinch stated the motion to the meeting : -
“Council notes:
· The contents of the Smith Institute report into Local Housing Companies and its summary[1].
o http://www.smith-institute.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/The-rise-of-local-housing-companies.pdf
o http://www.smith-institute.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/LHCs-Summary-Report.pdf
· That the Corporate Plan first theme (Open for Business) supports housing led economic growth to deliver:
o West Lindsey as a place of choice to live
o A sustainable and thriving economy
o Sustainable neighbourhoods
Further, that the second theme (People First) supports meeting local housing needs and aspirations to ensure that residents can live, grow and remain in the District.[2]
Council believes that:
· Having handed over the Council Housing stock to ACIS the Council is not in a position to develop the amount of housing needed to meet current and future demand in the district and that with limited appetite from the private sector to deliver affordable homes there may be opportunity for the Council to intervene in the market, whilst not detracting from private enterprises efforts.
· The benefits of developing a Local Housing Company are:
o Socio-Economic
§ Council can control the direction of housing provision and tenure: increasing supply and tenure mix, especially affordable homes, with the Council as master developer
§ Meet specific housing needs: low income residents, elderly, students, homeless, key workers etc.
§ Act as an innovator: trying different development models and tenure mix
§ Greater accountability and scrutiny than other housing providers
§ Exemption from HCA/government regulations and standards
o Financial
§ Generates income for the Council: directly through on-lending, property investment and rental/sales income and through additional New Homes Bonus, Community Infrastructure Levy and additional Council Tax receipts
§ Savings to the Council: providing lower cost temporary accommodation and providing cheaper housing maintenance and other services
§ Greater borrowing capacity to meet housing needs (escaping HRA debt/borrowing caps)
§ Securing additional private investment in housing and regeneration
§ Securing better value for Council assets than conventional disposal
§ Receptacle for commuted sums from S.106 agreements
§ Public procurement advantages
o Place-shaping
§ Intervening and influencing local housing markets: to achieve, support and encourage development
§ Bring forward development: unimplemented consents and provided scale for local construction/suppliers
§ Making best use of Council land: alternative to disposal of site to private developers
§ Stetting higher standards: the Council as an exemplary private landlord, improving design and eco-homes
Council resolves to:
· Mandate Officers to investigate and prepare for the establishment of a Local Housing Company and bring forward a paper to the Prosperous Communities Committee prior to the 2018 Annual Meeting of Full Council
· Make necessary provision of resources to achieve this aim
· Ensure that as part of the refresh of the Corporate Plan consideration is given to supporting the development of affordable housing within the district directly by the Council, with particular reference to the mechanism of a Local Housing Company
I so move”
Cllr. Stuart Kinch
Cllr. Mrs. Sheila Bibb
Cllr. Ian Fleetwood
Cllr. Giles McNeill
The Leader of the Council responded initially and thanked the Members for the excellent joint Motion which he indicated he fully supported. With such a significant drive by the Government backed by a commitment to invest heavily, the Leader considered it would be remiss of the Council to not take advantage of such a rare opportunity. He considered the motion to be well detailed and as such required a full response from the Director of Commercial and Economic Growth who was currently actively pursing the need for and nature of a housing company in West Lindsey.
The Director of Commercial and Economic Growth addressed the meeting and advised the investigation of a Housing Company was part of the current draft Housing Strategy. This had been through Due consultation and was due for consideration by the Prosperous Communities Committee at its meeting on 30 January 2018. Action 1.1 of the implementation Plan referred.
Furthermore there were two major projects nearing decision and which would further assist the housing agenda. The first being the Development Partnership, which in part, was a catalyst to housing supply backed by the Council. It was acknowledged that this perhaps would not take the form of a housing company but by enabling housing to happen.
Also there was a proposal to develop 140 homes in the Japan Road area through a development agreement with ACIS. Again this was the Council using its enabling role to deliver housing 40% of which would be affordable whilst the rest would be open market sale. The partnership would make use of ACIS’s expertise presenting no construction or sales risks to the Authority.
Councillor McNeill seconded the motion and in light of the information which had been offered, sought indication as to whether an amendment to the timescale would be of assistance to Officers and whether the suggested deadline of May 2018 was too soon.
In responding the Director of Commercial and Economic Growth indicated that legal processes around such matters were often lengthy. An announcement on the development partner was not expected until May 2018 and planning permission would not be sought until late 2018 for the Japan Road development subject to support from Committee. It was suggested allowing for outcomes on both these projects would provide useful market testing analysis information to inform any future paper at a later date. This would also allow for a more bespoke approach to be taken, ensuring the report produced was something that could work for West Lindsey as opposed to the pros and cons of a housing company in general.
The Director also advised that a Monitoring Officer was now in post, monitoring land supply and assessing what that meant for housing need. Additional time would allow for this analysis to also be taken into consideration.
Assurance was offered that work in this area was being undertaken. Ideally a deadline of May 19 would allow for a more meaningful report, or by the end of the calendar year as an alternative option.
In light of the response it was proposed, seconded and on being put to the vote CARRIED that the date referred to in the motion be amended to read “bring forward a paper to the Prosperous Communities Committee prior to the 2019 Annual Meeting of Full Council”
Further debate ensued with Councillor Kinch, as one of those Members who had submitted the motion, offering rational and explanation for having done so. Councillor Kinch acknowledged the projects and approaches which were being explored but outlined a scenario experienced by some residents, which he considered demonstrated a gap not being filled by private sector. Rural communities had housing needs which needed addressing also. It was not being suggested that the Council provide all new build homes but for example look at procuring stock. Reference was made to a previous project in the South West Ward where homes had been procured but then sold on, in hindsight he considered these should have possibly been retained. This would offer a mixed tenure and give residents, particularly those previously highlighted, options.
Councillor Bibb also made reference to the proven link between Health and Housing. It was important that all residents had appropriate housing to help them remain healthy and through the work undertaken by the Health Commission, gaps had been identified which needed to be addressed.
Having being moved and seconded, on being put to the vote, the motion, as amended above was declared CARRIED
It was therefore RESOLVED that: -
(a) Officers investigate and prepare for the establishment of a Local Housing Company and bring forward a paper to the Prosperous Communities Committee prior to the 2019 Annual Meeting of Full Council;
(b) necessary provision of resources to achieve this aim be made; and
(c) it be ensured, as part of the refresh of the Corporate Plan consideration be given to supporting the development of affordable housing within the district directly by the Council, with particular reference to the mechanism of a Local Housing Company.