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Housing development update

Meeting: 08/07/2021 - Lewes District Council Cabinet (Item 20)

20 Housing development update pdf icon PDF 265 KB

Report of Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor William Meyer

 

(This report contains an exempt appendix. Any discussion of this must take place at item 19 following exclusion of the public.)

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

(Key decision):

 

(1) To note the progress of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme, alongside other schemes for housing delivery. This is set out at Exempt Appendix 1 to the report.

 

(2) To authorise the acquisition of a single garage unit adjacent to land already owned by LDC, the subsequent development of land, and disposal of the garage site at Mill Road, Ringmer including to allocate a budget within the capacity of the HRA Capital Programme.

 

(3) To approve the new projects as detailed in Appendix 1 (Exempt) through to the planning and tender stage, subject to further Cabinet approval prior to the award of a contract and the commencement of any works.

 

(4) To authorise entering into a land agreement to facilitate the development of a Neighbourhood Plan identified site at Long Park Corner, Ditchling, subject to further legal, finance, and market advice.

 

(5) To authorise entering into a framework for a contractor offering an off-site manufactured house building solution, through an advertised open competition, to aid in the delivery of the Capital Programme alongside other procurement routes.

 

(6) To authorise the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Assets and Chief Finance Officer, to carry out all necessary actions to facilitate these proposals including feasibility, development and determining the terms of, and authorising the execution of, all necessary documentation.

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning, updating them on the progress of new housing developments.

 

The Council had developed a pipeline of new affordable homes and there were currently 129 Council properties either moving through the planning process, under construction or completed with local families living in them. The Council had also undertaken a competitive procurement exercise to appoint a modular housing specialist to a framework agreement. This would speed up the process for appointing a contractor and saved significant costs by not having to repeatedly go through a lengthy tendering process. The framework would also contribute to the Community Wealth Building agenda, with a specific emphasis on skills, training and employment.

 

Policy and Performance Advisory Committee (PPAC), held on 30 June 2021, considered the report and were supportive of the officer recommendations in full. Councillor Miller, Chair of PPAC, was in attendance to present PPAC’s discussion.

 

Visiting member and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Group, Councillor Liz Boorman, addressed the Cabinet on this item. She welcomed the development of affordable homes and requested that the Cabinet look into supplying affordable homes in towns and villages not included in the proposals, such as Seaford. The Cabinet acknowledged the need of investment across the District and confirmed that officers were continuing to explore opportunities to do so.

 

The Cabinet were also given an update on the Council’s acquisition programme. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital programme contained a budget for acquisitions and individuals who had bought properties through the Right To Buy scheme in the last 10 years were required to offer it back to the Council at the first instance.

 

Following the general discussion amongst Cabinet members, Cabinet resolved to exclude the public whilst clarifying a question from Councillor O’Brien on the exempt appendix, as otherwise there was a likelihood of disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

 

Following discussion of the exempt appendix, the public meeting resumed.

 

Cabinet unanimously agreed to an amendment to resolution 6, to include consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Assets and this was detailed below.

 

Resolved (Key decision):

 

(1) To note the progress of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme, alongside other schemes for housing delivery. This is set out at Exempt Appendix 1 to the report.

 

(2) To authorise the acquisition of a single garage unit adjacent to land already owned by LDC, the subsequent development of land, and disposal of the garage site at Mill Road, Ringmer including to allocate a budget within the capacity of the HRA Capital Programme.

 

(3) To approve the new projects as detailed in Appendix 1 (Exempt) through to the planning and tender stage, subject to further Cabinet approval prior to the award of a contract and the commencement of any works.

 

(4)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20