Issue - meetings

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

Cabinet is asked to approve recommendations to progress the next steps of the High Road West Scheme, including entering into funding contracts with the GLA, entering into a loan agreement and updating contractual arrangements. The report also seeks approval for the Council to acquire social rented properties. Delegations will be sought to progress the scheme relating to finalising commercial terms and legal arrangements. Approvals will also be sought to update previous delegations.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Regeneration introduced the report which sought approval of a GLA funding package, which totalled £91,512,000 and consisted of £70,312,000 of Affordable Housing Grant and £21,200,000 of Mayor’s Land Fund. This funding was required to start the delivery of the first phases of the High Road West Scheme and the delivery of the 500 social rented homes.

This report further sought approval for the Council to acquire the additional social rented homes the Scheme will deliver, which would allow the Council to meet a long-held ambition, expressed by residents, that these homes, like the 145 replacement homes already secured under the Development Agreement, are owned and managed by the Council.

In addition, the report sought approvals with regards to the contractual arrangements required as a result of the decisions being made in the report that would permit the Council to deliver the Scheme in the event of a supportive ballot. The report also recommended updating an existing delegated authority regarding the level of spend on acquisition of properties required to deliver the Scheme, in accordance with the land assembly budget in the Capital programme agreed by Council in March 2021.

The Cabinet Member continued to outline the opportunity the scheme provided in supporting the Council’s objective of equality, regardless of background, providing increased affordable housing from 145 homes to 500, access to training, employment, community living, with increased green spaces.

The Cabinet Member responded to questions from Councillors Chandwani, Gordon, Brabazon, Cawley-Harrison and Amin:

-           Improvements to the scheme over the last 3 years included: the increased number of social rented homes from 145 to 500, changes to the commercial space and location of jobs, added improvements to the  park and new public square and options in relation to the location of the Library and Learning Centre.

-           The 297 homes on the Love Lane Estate referred to, included a number of leasehold properties and so they were not all Council homes.  There was a reduction from 212 existing Council homes to 145 new Council homes in the original proposals for High Road West. The GLA funding will ensure the Council can increase the number of Council homes delivered by the scheme from 145 to 500.

-           The Council and Lendlease recognised the importance of tackling climate change. Lendlease had set targets in aligning with the 1.5 Paris targets and aimed for net zero carbon by 2025.The Council did not have the figures on the carbon emissions to be released in the demolition of the Love Lane Estate, at this stage of the scheme, and were working towards compiling this information.

-           The new council owned social homes would meet the Housing Strategy mix, there would be 55 one bedroom properties, 225 two bedroom properties, 165 three bedroom homes, and 55 four bedroom homes.

-           Responding to further questions on secure tenancies and why the residents in temporary accommodation were not having the security of secure tenancies offered ahead of the ballot, it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 493