Issue - meetings

Cabinet was advised that new homes were urgently needed to assist households on the Council’s housing list and those who were homeless and living in temporary accommodation. As at October 2018, there were 135 households living in temporary accommodation.

It was indicated that the housing contributions of £727,600 to be used for the acquisition programme were secured by the Council as part of the conditions attached to the 2004 permission of the Royal Sands Development, which was received in 2017. The condition required that the contributions would be allocated for affordable housing in the local area.

Over the past seven years an average 73 new affordable homes were provided each year by the council and its housing association partners. The Strategic Housing Market Assessment completed in 2016 identified a need for 397 affordable homes per year. The housing contribution highlighted above would make significant contributions towards that target,

Councillor Campbell spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor Game proposed, Councillor Savage seconded and Cabinet agreed:

1.  To the principles set out in this report for a further acquisition programme of between 3 and 4 homes;

2.  To allocate £727,600 of Housing Contributions to fund the programme;

3.  To delegate authority to the Head of Housing & Planning services, to complete the acquisition of new homes within the programme.