Issue - meetings

Report of Councillor Peter Diplock, Cabinet member for Housing and Planning, on behalf of the Cabinet held on 20 September 2023.

Councillor Diplock moved and Councillor Holt seconded the recommendations from the Cabinet meeting on 20 September 2023 in relation to a new build and acquisitions budget.

In supporting the recommendations several Councillors highlighted that the Council had brought forward affordable social schemes every year over the last five years and highlighted the quality of the builds.

The recommendations were put to a vote and carried.

RESOLVED (unanimously) – To approve an increase of £2.41m to the existing new build and acquisitions budget within the 2023/24 HRA Capital Programme, totalling a new budget of £10.81m, to facilitate and be funded by new government grants.

Report of Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Peter Diplock

(This report contains an exempt appendix. Any discussion of this must take place at item 12 following exclusion of the public.)

Recommended to Full Council (Budget and policy framework)

(1) To approve an increase of £2.41m to the existing new build and acquisitions budget within the 2023/24 HRA Capital Programme, totalling a new budget of £10.81m, to facilitate and be funded by new government grants, subject to Full Council approval.

(Key decision):

(2) To note the progress of the housing development and delivery programme as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

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

(4) To approve a variation of £150k for the Fort Lane development in accordance with the Financial Procedure Rules, totalling a new scheme budget of £3.15m, financed within the capacity of the existing approved 2023/24 HRA Capital Programme.

(5) To approve the disposal of Council-owned garage sites as set out within Appendix 2 (Exempt) to the report, subject to a full business case, and with the capital receipts ring-fenced to support the HRA Business Plan and future capital schemes for housing.

(6) To authorise the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Performance (S151 Officer) and Lead Member for Housing and Planning, to take all necessary actions to progress all recommendations including business cases, budget allocations, negotiation and agreement of terms, award of contract(s), and authorising the formal execution of all related documentation.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning, providing an update on the housing development and delivery programme. This included proposals to identify new opportunities to further the delivery of council housing, requirements to revise existing budget allocations to support delivery and recommendations to dispose of garage sites to generate new income.

Eastbourne was one of just a third of English councils that had built new social housing in each year of the last five financial years, according to government figures. Thanks were also expressed to government for their release of additional grant funding opportunities that the Council had been able to secure and welcomed further opportunities. Further details were contained within the report.

Recommended to Full Council (Budget and policy framework)

(1) To approve an increase of £2.41m to the existing new build and acquisitions budget within the 2023/24 HRA Capital Programme, totalling a new budget of £10.81m, to facilitate and be funded by new government grants, subject to Full Council approval.

Resolved (Key decision):

(2) To note the progress of the housing development and delivery programme as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

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

(4) To approve a variation of £150k for the Fort Lane development in accordance with the Financial Procedure Rules, totalling a new scheme budget of £3.15m, financed within the capacity of the existing approved 2023/24 HRA Capital Programme.

(5) To approve the disposal of Council-owned garage sites as set out within Appendix 2 (Exempt) to the report, subject to a full business case, and with the capital receipts ring-fenced to support the HRA Business Plan and future capital schemes for housing.

(6) To authorise the Director of Regeneration and Planning, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Performance (S151 Officer) and Lead Member for Housing and Planning, to take all necessary actions to progress all recommendations including business cases, budget allocations, negotiation and agreement of terms, award of contract(s), and authorising the formal execution of all related documentation.

Reason for decisions:

(1) To provide Cabinet with an update on the growing housing development and delivery programme.

(2) To progress the development of new Council homes across the borough, maximising brownfield sites to enable new affordable housing opportunities.

(3) To ratify HRA Capital Programme budgets to support the delivery and purchase of new homes.

(4) To rationalise the HRA, making best use of assets and resources, and generating income to support future housing schemes.

Notes: (1) Appendix 2 remained exempt. (2) Exempt information reason 3 -Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).