Issue - meetings

Report of Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor William Meyer

(Non-key decision):

(1) To note the progress of the Council’s housing delivery programme as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

(2) To support the progression of the initial phase of sites identified within the HRA from the internal Asset Review to be taken through the feasibility and due diligence processes, utilising existing budgets and delegations.

(3) To endorse the formation of an Affordable Housing Design Standard for all future Council housing developments within the district.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning, providing an update on the progress of the Council’s housing delivery programme and achievements to date with the targets that had been set.

Thanks were conveyed to officers for their work in producing the report.

Policy and Performance Advisory Committee (PPAC), held on 31 May 2022 considered the report and were supportive of the officer recommendations in full. Councillor Boorman, Chair of Policy and Performance Advisory Committee, was in attendance to present PPAC’s discussion. Part of the discussion at the meeting was around the need for housing in other towns of the district.

Councillor Linington, Leader of the Opposition, also addressed the Cabinet, reiterating comments made at PPAC, and whilst welcoming more Council houses being built, questioned the locations of the houses in areas such as Plumpton and Chailey, with poor public transport links, therefore requiring access to a car and being less sustainable.

Councillor Meyer responded that the properties in Plumpton and Chailey were purchased at a favourable rate and represented an opportunist purchase at the time. The Cabinet would continue to explore opportunities to purchase properties in those areas of the district in need of council housing, whilst also continuing to build sustainable homes.

Resolved (Non-key decision):

(1) To note the progress of the Council’s housing delivery programme as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

(2) To support the progression of the initial phase of sites identified within the HRA from the internal Asset Review to be taken through the feasibility and due diligence processes, utilising existing budgets and delegations.

(3) To endorse the formation of an Affordable Housing Design Standard for all future Council housing developments within the district.

Reason for decisions:

To progress the development of new Council homes across the district, maximising brownfield sites to enable new housing affordable housing opportunities.