Issue - meetings

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

This report seeks authority to enter into a Deed of Variation based on the draft heads of terms agreed in a proposed Letter from the Council to Newlon set out in Appendix B, enabling the £6.5m RTB funding to be spent on the Ferry Lane garage site and the Monument Way site, and/or other sites in the borough which will result in the delivery of the affordable housing

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Estate Renewal introduced this report which sought authority to enter into a Deed of Variation based on the draft heads of terms agreed in a proposed Letter from the Council to Newlon set out in Appendix B, enabling the £6.5m RTB funding to be spent on the Ferry Lane garage site and the Monument Way site, and/or other sites in the borough which will result in the delivery of the affordable housing

The Cabinet Member noted the Council’s Borough Plan included objectives to increase the supply of new affordable housing, which was also reflected in our Housing Strategy. The Council had now put in place a direct delivery programme to work towards building 1,000 new Council homes at Council rents by 2022. This represents a positive use of current RTB receipts, which we would no longer choose to allocate to delivery by external partners, as was done in March 2016. However, the amendment of that Original Funding Agreement will ensure that those funds are spent within the borough of Haringey and not returned to Government.

The Cabinet Member closed by noting the Council was demonstrating its commitment to the development of new, high-quality affordable rented homes for local people.

In response to questions from Councillor Brabazon, the following information was provided:

• The Cabinet Member confirmed the Ferry Lane garage site was located on Ferry Lane near Hale Wharf.
• Regarding the Monument Way development, the Cabinet Member recognised there were concerns around this.
• Officers noted retention of resources in the borough was key and so the Council had been working with the housing association Newlon to other areas of spend towards the delivery of affordable housing, and to refine estimates of spend at the Monument Way site up to the end of the 2019/20 financial year. Consequently, it was identified that significant spend was incurred towards the acquisition of the Ferry Lane Garage Site, which was intended to deliver affordable housing in due course. The Council’s main objective was to ensure that any money was not returned to the GLA but rather utilised in the borough where possible.
• The Cabinet Member noted discussions had been made regarding the housing mix on the proposed new site. Officers added that the Cabinet Member had requested that a provision for larger units be included in the Funding Agreement, in order to minimise or avoid one bed units where possible.

Further to considering exempt information at item 26,

RESOLVED

1. To agree the reallocation of the £6.5m RTB funding from use solely on the Monument Way site, to also include use on the Ferry Lane garage site and any other sites, and for the provision of 54 affordable rented homes to be provided on other sites (including Monument Way site, Ferry Lane garage site and other sites in the borough) as set out in paragraph 6.4 of this report, and for the Council to enter into a Deed of Variation based on the draft heads of terms contained in a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 116