Issue - meetings

[Report of the Director for Housing, Planning and Regeneration. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Estate Renewal.]

A report to provide an update on progress towards the Council's aim to deliver 1,000 Council homes. 

The report will also seek Cabinet approval:

• On a list of development sites to be included in the Council's housing delivery programme.

• The acquisition of 11 s106 units at Hornsey Town Hall

• Variation to the total cost of land assembly at Cranwood  at the corner of Woodside Avenue and Muswell Hill Road

• To enter into a funding agreement with the GLA to accept revenue funding to support the Council housing delivery programme

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Estate Renewal introduced the report, which provided an update on the Council housing delivery programme since May 2018, including the delivery of new homes funded through the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) Building Council Homes for Londoners programme, and progress on sites, which have previously been approved.

The Cabinet Member underlined that investing in Council Homes saved lives and produced safety of tenure in order to enable residents in the borough to thrive. The report provided an update to Council colleagues and residents on the Council’s latest position to deliver 1000 homes by the end of this administration.

 The Cabinet Member outlined the challenges around land, money, and capacity to deliver on this commitment. She referred to the list of Council owned sites which was the first phase of the Council’s direct delivery programme and was pleased to have started meeting with ward Councilors to consult on existing identified sites and to seek information on any site additions to the programme. In relation to money and funding the building of the homes, the huge contribution of the GLA was referenced. The Council was pleased to accept £60m of funding for the housing delivery programme and a further half million has been granted to support increased capacity. This additional funding would help ensure the Council have the right people with a range of expertise to deliver this programme. There was great enthusiasm to deliver this programme, which would be a huge challenge. Although, many other local authorities were in this position.

In response to questions from Councillors Bull, Barnes and Davies, the following was noted:

-      Further to setting up meeting with White Hart Lane ward Councillors, there were further ward meetings to be scheduled and opportunities for other ward Councillors to put forward suggested sites for usage. The Cabinet Member welcomed correspondence containing suggestions for sites, keeping in mind that not all suggestions would be taken forward, if they were investigated and found not appropriate to do so. It was noted that there would be a wider consultation on proposed sites and opinions were welcomed.

-  With regards to the acquisition of homes from developers for use as Council homes, the Cabinet Member was pleased to have the opportunity made available for private land to be converted to public land and saw municipalisation as a positive outcome. Although, this was not a low cost method, the Council was in a better position to invest in the homes. There was also a clear benchmark followed when the homes were purchased and which would need to pass best value and best consideration tests.

-  It was noted that all the Council tenants had been decanted from Tangmere block at Broadwater Farm and the Council were in a negotiation process with the remaining leaseholder.

-  It was clarified that there would be wide consultation involving residents as the sites were across the borough and would also include key housing stakeholders. A Communications and Engagement Strategy was being drawn  ...  view the full minutes text for item 185