Council received a report which provided information on opportunities and initiatives for improving services and supporting the provision of new and improved affordable housing in the Borough of Hinckley & Bosworth. During discussion, the following points were raised:
· The need to avoid building new large ‘council estates’ and Members’ preference towards pepper potting affordable homes throughout estates;
· Concern regarding the high number of empty residential properties in Earl Shilton;
· The risk of council house waiting lists lengthening in light of the Government’s renewed Right to Buy scheme;
· The potential for rent arrears to increase due to a reduction in benefits and the way that these were to be paid.
In response to some of these points it was suggested that the Government be lobbied regarding Right to Buy, that work was being undertaken to identify those who may struggle to make payments due to a reduction in benefit payments, and that a private sector leasing scheme would be developed, funded through the Empty Homes Grant, to enable empty properties to be brought back into use. Members were reminded that there was currently a high level of satisfaction with the Council’s housing service.
RESOLVED –
(i) the Council Housing Investment Strategy and Business Plan be approved;
(ii) the information contained within the report be endorsed;
(iii) the Council’s approach to the negotiations on affordable rent products with developers be approved;
(iv) the principles of the Council’s affordable housing delivery plan be supported;
(v) the achievement of the private sector housing team in securing an Empty Property Grant of £522,120 from the Homes and Communities Agency be welcomed and a supplementary expenditure and income budget for this amount be agreed;
(vi) the work undertaken by the Housing Options team to prevent homelessness be acknowledged, along with the award of a grant for £50,015 for the prevention of homelessness due to mortgage arrears and a supplementary expenditure and income budget for this amount be agreed.