Issue - meetings

To consider the recommendations of the Cabinet in respect of:

a)    Review of HRA Capital Programme and purchase of S106 homes in Weston – To review the HRA Capital Programme relating to housing delivery and to present a business case for the acquisition of 17 S106 Affordable Homes.

b)    Local Authority Housing Fund – to seek agreement for the Council to take part in the Local Authority Housing Fund programme Round 2 with a view to accepting government funding to support the delivery of eight new homes in the district to meet short, medium and long term housing need.

c)    2023/24 Quarter One Finance update - To set out the current financial position for the Council at the end of the first quarter of 2023/24

(report of the Cabinet enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Cabinet which sought approval for the Cabinet’s recommendations

a)    Review of HRA Capital Programme and purchase of S106 homes in Weston – to review the HRA Capital Programme relating to housing delivery and to present a business case for the acquisition of 17 S106 Affordable Homes

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing, Leisure Centre Delivery and Spalding Town Improvement presented the report.

DECISIONS:

i.       That the business case and acquisition of 17 affordable homes within Weston, for the HRA be approved;

ii.     That the revised HRA capital programme as shown at Appendix B, including that scheme and the reprofiling of future years schemes be approved;

iii.    That the reprofiling of funding for the HRA capital programme be approved;

iv.    That delegation be given to the Assistant Director Strategic Growth and Development in consultation with Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Development) and S151, to agree the contractual matters (including the terms and conditions which may represent a minor variation to the scheme approved in the business case) such as signing the contract/transfer document and other incidental actions that may be required, and to approve the associated due diligence and valuation required to purchase the properties; and

v.     That the recommendations, as detailed within the exempt appendix be agreed.

b)    Local Authority Housing Fund – to seek agreement for the Council to take part in the Local Authority Housing Fund Programme Round 2 with a view to accepting government funding to support the delivery of eight new homes in the district to meet short, medium and long term housing need.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Operational Housing presented the report.

An error noted on page 50 of the agenda would be corrected relating to the ‘Addition to the Capital Programme’ of the ‘LAHF Round 2 – General Fund’. The total revised budget for ‘3 properties for general need’ 2023/24 would be amended from £788k to £738k.

DECISION:

That it be agreed that the 2023/24 capital programme be amended to reflect the LAHF project.

c)     2023/2024 Quarter One Finance Update

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercialisation, UKSPF and Levelling Up presented the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercialisation, UKSPF and Levelling Up would give a formal response in respect of the following questions raised regarding the 2023/24 Quarter One Finance Update:

• How long was ‘temporary’ noted at Table 3b, page 14; and
• What is the expected return, if any, on the Council’s investment with UK Municipal Bond Agency noted at Table 14, page 21 of the agenda.

DECISION:

That following agreement at Special Cabinet on 26 September 2023, the Council amends the Capital Programme to take into account the changes set out in the Cabinet report at Appendix A – Table 4 (General Fund) and Table 7 (HRA).