Agenda item - Housing Delivery Options - Living Wage Joint Venture

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Agenda item

Housing Delivery Options - Living Wage Joint Venture

Extract from the proceedings of the Housing & New Homes Committee meeting held on the 16th November, 2016 together with a report of the Executive Director for Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing (copies attached) and an extract from the proceedings of the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee meeting held on the 8th December (copy to be circulated).

Minutes:

55.1      Councillor Meadows introduced the report which detailed the proposal from Hyde Housing Association to develop a Living Wage Joint Venture with the council to acquire land and develop new homes for lower cost rental and sale for low income working households in the city.  She thanked Councillor Gibson for referring the report to the council and stated that it was intended to work in partnership with a reputable Housing Association to provide much needed homes in the city.  She also noted that it would create a number of jobs and apprenticeships and hoped that councillors would support the venture.

 

55.2      Councillor Druitt stated that there was a need to consider the affordability of the homes and noted that consideration would need to be given to rent levels if they were to directly help those in the city on low incomes.

 

55.3      Councillor Wealls stated that he had questioned the need for the information contained in the part 2 report at the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee meeting to remain confidential.  He was not sure that it was commercially sensitive, and hoped that there would be sufficient challenge to ensure the scheme was the appropriate way forward.

 

55.4      The Mayor asked the Monitoring Officer to clarify the position with regard the part 2 appendix that had been circulated with the agenda papers.

 

55.5      The Monitoring Officer informed the meeting that the information contained in the appendix related to the financial business of the company and as such came under Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.  He stated that the Chief Executive had consulted with the company’s chief executive with regard to the information being made public; however he had confirmed that it was their intellectual property and as such he wished that it remained confidential.

 

55.6      Councillor Penn referred to her own family’s experience in terms of housing and noted the city was facing a housing crisis and anything that could be done to address that should be as people were faced with unaffordable rent levels.  She therefore welcomed the work that Councillor Hill had undertaken to bring forward the joint venture and hoped that it would come to fruition ad provide needed homes for people in the city.

 

55.7      Councillor Mears stated that she had been concerned to see a pink paper on the council agenda and noted that when the report had been considered at the Housing & New Homes Committee, the part two appendix had not been debated.  She believed that the Council should remain open to the public.

 

55.8      Councillor Miller stated that there was a need for affordable housing, however the question remained as to whether it was appropriate to undertake a joint venture with one organisation or whether there was an opportunity to explore options with other partners or organisations in the city.  There was a concern about the oversight of the joint venture and Member involvement which he hoped could be given consideration.

 

55.9      The Mayor noted the points and asked if Members wished to move into closed session.

 

55.10   Councillor G. Theobald stated that Members of his Group had made their concerns known and he did not wish to move into closed session.

 

55.11   Councillor Meadows noted the comments and stated that Councillor Hill had worked very hard under her housing remit to bring the scheme forward and hoped that it would be supported.

 

55.12   The Mayor stated that the report had been referred for information  and moved that it be noted.

 

55.13   RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

Supporting documents:

 


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