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 approval to consult on the offers to existing residents which would form part of the scheme, namely benefits for secure tenants and non-secure tenants in temporary accommodation through a proposed Local Lettings Policy, and a proposed Leaseholder Offer.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Estate Renewal introduced the report which sought approval to consult on the offers to existing residents which would form part of the scheme, namely benefits for secure tenants and non-secure tenants in temporary accommodation through a proposed Local Lettings Policy (Appendix 1), and a proposed Leaseholder Offer (Appendix 2).

The Cabinet Member highlighted that since 2018, this Cabinet has been working to deliver more Council owned social rent homes and to make Haringey a fairer and more equal place. As part of this drive, the Council have worked to refocus the High Road West Scheme so that it provides a significant increase in Council homes and to ensure that those affected by the scheme are given support, choice and fair rehousing options.

The Cabinet Member felt that the offers described in this report are positive and fair. It was fully understood that tenants and leaseholders have concerns about their current and future homes and have built relationships in the area as friendships, local ties and the local community have grown. The Council was responding to these concerns and aspirations through these offers, recognising the varying needs and with an emphasis on affordability which will provide residents with the choice of new homes that they need.

The Cabinet Member underlined that the Council wanted to hear views from the community through an open and robust consultation process and were committed to putting residents at the heart of the High Road West Scheme. Also, through past engagement and consultation the Council had demonstrated their commitment to meet residents’ aspirations - such as the Council remaining the landlord of the replacement homes, developing a more generous offer for resident leaseholders, seeking leaseholders’ views on the consultation questions and having a different approach to the valuation process. Residents have contributed towards the various rehousing guides, the Resident Charter, Resident Design Guide, ERRPP and the ownership of the replacement homes consultation. This next step would go even further towards honouring commitment to put residents at the heart of change in their neighbourhoods.

The Cabinet Member added that the proposals set out in the report were still subject to the conclusion of discussions with the GLA regarding the funding of High Road West and the Council wold not proceed to the consultation and residents’ ballot until that funding was in place, but in the meantime were keen to understand residents’ views about the proposals.

In response to questions from Cllr Brabazon and Cllr Ogiehor, the following information was provided:

• With regards to the timeline for instigating the consultation which was dependent on the GLA’s decision on funding the High Road West Scheme, the date for this was not yet known given that the pre -election period was approaching it was important for the Council to set out its offer for residents in the scheme and be in a position to proceed to consultation once the decision was made.

• Assurance was provided that the Council had been engaging with residents in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 194