Agenda item - Public Involvement

To consider the following matters raised by members of the public:

(a)          Petitions: To receive any petitions presented by members of the public to the full Council or at the meeting itself.

(b)          Written Questions: To receive any questions submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 2 March 2018.

(c)               Deputations: To receive any deputations submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 2 March 2018.

55.1    The Chair invited Diane Montgomery to ask a question on behalf of the Living Rent Campaign:

             “The Living Rent Campaign asks why so many new private housing developments are given planning permission without meeting the council 40% quota of affordable housing, and notes that new developments in the city are aimed at the luxury market and do little to address the serious housing crisis in the area.

We also note that 80% of market rent is unrealistic for ordinary people. We suggest that the council develop affordable rented guidance based on 60% of the local market rents to define affordable (and the figure should be no more than the LHA), and that the council gives priority to allocate new affordable social housing to the council as opposed to housing associations, many of which are now no longer addressing real social need.”

55.2    The Chair responded:

“The City Plan is seeking to secure 40% affordable housing on all schemes of more than 15 homes.  The Plan also seeks a mix of affordable housing types to meet local needs but definitions for affordable housing are set out in national planning guidance (the NPPF). This defines affordable housing to include affordable rent (no more than 80% of local market rent); social rented housing and intermediate housing for sale or rent (e.g. shared ownership). In many cases, the council has been successful in securing affordable housing with rents capped at LHA levels (around 60% market rents)

“This Committee is not able to influence the affordability of housing developments that are brought forward by private developers in the city centre or elsewhere, other than by seeking affordable housing provision through policies in our adopted City Plan.

“It is acknowledged that affordable housing delivery in the city has proven more challenging in recent years due to changes in the way that affordable housing is funded and viability factors in scheme delivery. The government’s NPPF allows a developer to make a case for less affordable housing to be delivered when it can be shown that delivering more would impact upon the overall viability of the development.   This Committee recently agreed a move to an “open book” approach on viability assessments. Where planning applications are not offering 40% quotas, viability statements will have to be presented at the time of application, and follow a standard methodology in terms of scope and type of information supplied, This will increase accountability and transparency where applications fall under the 40% quota.

“The challenge of meeting affordable housing need in the city is also being addressed through a range of initiatives that go beyond planning policy.  Examples include the council’s £118m Joint Venture which will deliver 500 homes for rent for working Brighton & Hove residents on low incomes, and 500 shared ownership homes affordable to buy for Brighton & Hove residents on average incomes.  The council’s New Homes for Neighbourhood programme is delivering council owned rented accommodation on council sites and the Hidden Homes initiative converting unused space in existing blocks to create additional affordable rented housing.

“Allocations to all new affordable rented properties are through the council’s Homemove system based on the council’s adopted allocations policy.  The council is already exploring the viability of the council becoming the registered provider for affordable housing elements within new developments.”

55.3    Diane Montgomery stated that the National Planning Policy Framework stated that affordable rents were up to 80% of market rates which left leeway to demand under 60% of market rates. She asked if the council had achieved under 60% rents and if any evidence could be provided.

55.4    The Chair asked the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture to respond.

55.5    The Executive Director stated that in many cases the council had been successful in securing rates lower than 80% and the aims was to achieve 60% of market rates. The Executive Director stated that did not have exact figures to hand but could provide a more detailed answer through the Chair.