Issue - meetings

To introduce a Housing Delivery Framework to inform future investment decisions for Welland Homes relating to housing developments (report of the Portfolio Holder (Assets and Planning) and the Assistant Director (Strategic Growth and Development) enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Portfolio Holder (Assets and Planning) and the Assistant Director (Strategic Growth and Development) which introduced a Housing Delivery Framework to inform future investment decisions for Welland Homes relating to housing developments.

Members noted that the proposals did not include any reference to informing ward members.  Officers responded that every decision published by the Executive would be subject to call-in, and members would therefore have the opportunity to feed in via this mechanism if required.

Members responded that ward members should be informed on any housing schemes which met the criteria, prior to a public report being submitted to Cabinet for decision.  A formal amendment to this end was proposed.  The amendment was moved and seconded. 

DECISION:

1)    That the proposal to amend the Policy Framework to include the Welland Homes Housing Delivery Framework be supported and recommended to Council for approval;

2)    That ward members be informed on any housing schemes which met the criteria, prior to a public report being submitted to Cabinet for decision;

RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL:

3)    That the Welland Homes Housing Delivery Framework, at Appendix A to the report, which informs and guides future Executive decisions for the Capital Programme for Welland Homes housing delivery, be approved; and

4)    That the Welland Homes Housing Delivery Framework be included as a local choice policy in the Council’s Policy Framework and that the Constitution, at Article 4.3, be amended accordingly.

(Other options considered:

·         Do nothing.  In this event, there would be no certainty around the preferred approach to delivering new housing schemes. This could delay schemes being approved. The Executive would continue to approve business cases for individual schemes without a framework being in place to guide such decisions.

Reasons for decision:

·         To identify the preferred nature of schemes for future investment;

·         To provide a framework within which the Executive can approve the delivery of Welland Homes housing projects;

·         To ensure that investment decisions are made which adhere to the framework;

·         To clarify that schemes which are outside of the framework will only be pursued if they have been referred to, and approved by, Council.)

To introduce a Housing Delivery Framework to inform future investment decisions for Welland Homes relating to housing developments (report of the Assistant Director – Strategic Growth and Development enclosed).

The Panel considered the report of the Assistant Director – Strategic Growth and Development to introduce a Housing Delivery Framework to inform future investment decisions for Welland Homes relating to housing developments.

The Head of Delivery introduced the report and highlighted the following main points of the draft Housing Delivery Framework:

• SHDC had an approved capital budget for the delivery of 21 homes by Welland Homes;
• the report established a policy framework which allowed the Council to set the criteria for how the Capital Programme budget was allocated;
• approval of the Framework would mean that housing schemes which met the criteria would be approved by the Executive, whereas currently decisions were made by Council;
• the criteria set out the delivery model types and expected property requirements;
• schemes which did not conform to the remit would be required to obtain approval at Council in order for them to be delivered; and
• the Framework would support Welland Homes to meet its business plan objectives

The Panel considered the report which was supported, and there were no questions.

AGREED:

That the Panel supported the progress of the Welland Homes Housing Delivery Framework.

(Cllr Booth left the meeting at the start of consideration of this item, and re-joined the meeting following its completion)