10 Future Acquisitions for Affordable Housing Delivery
Housing Portfolio
Exempt Paragraph 3
Information relating to financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information)
To consider report CH/201 of the Head of Crawley Homes, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission at its meeting on 25 September 2023.
Decision:
Information relating to financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information)
RESOLVED
That the Cabinet:
a) Agrees that the acquisition methods, listed in Section 5.1 of report CH/201, be made available to relevant officers to maximise the Council’s opportunity to purchase land and housing schemes for affordable housing delivery purposes, and that the Full Council be requested to delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Head of Corporate Finance, the Leader of the Council and the Chair of the Governance Committee that the Constitution (and its associated documents) be updated accordingly.
b) Agrees to proceed with the acquisition of the off-plan ‘turnkey’ purchase as referenced in Section 5.2 of report CH/201, subject to satisfactory due diligence and procurement compliance and budget availability.
c) Agrees to proceed with the land acquisition as referenced in Section 5.3 of report CH/201, subject to satisfactory due diligence and procurement compliance and budget availability.
d) That, subject to recommendations (b) and (c) being approved, delegates authority to the Leader of the Council in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, Head of Strategic Housing/Head of Crawley Homes (as appropriate), Head of Governance, People & Performance to approve the award of the contract (including a procurement process if necessary).
e) That, subject to recommendations (b) and (c) being approved, delegates the negotiation, approval (including a procurement process if necessary) and completion of all relevant legal documentation to secure additional affordable housing for the acquisitions identified in Sections 5.2 and 5.3 of report CH/201 to the Head of Crawley Homes/Head of Strategic Housing (as appropriate), Head of Corporate Finance and Head of Governance, People & Performance, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Housing. (Generic Delegations 2 & 3 will be used to enact this recommendation).
Reasons for the Recommendations
The Council has an active housing delivery programme aimed at addressing the pressing need for affordable housing in the borough, where Crawley has a limited land supply, and opportunities need to be explored from across the market, which may arise in a range of different forms, and Officers require the authority to explore viable options that may arise, and to proceed into contract when appropriate, following the necessary consultation.
Minutes:
Information relating to financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information)
The Cabinet Member for Housing presented report CH/201of the Head of Crawley Homes. The report sought approval to acquire affordable housing opportunities from the market, to be funded from the HRA Acquisitions Budget for Crawley Homes ownership.
Councillor Ayling presented the Overview and Scrutiny Commission’s comments on the report OSC/314 to the Cabinet following consideration of the matter at its meeting on 25 September 2023.
The Cabinet was assured that space standards would be guaranteed within the housing developments. The Leader commented it was a positive report which would help unlock housing opportunities.
RESOLVED
That the Cabinet:
a) Agrees that the acquisition methods, listed in Section 5.1 of report CH/201, be made available to relevant officers to maximise the Council’s opportunity to purchase land and housing schemes for affordable housing delivery purposes, and that the Full Council be requested to delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Head of Corporate Finance, the Leader of the Council and the Chair of the Governance Committee that the Constitution (and its associated documents) be updated accordingly.
b) Agrees to proceed with the acquisition of the off-plan ‘turnkey’ purchase as referenced in Section 5.2 of report CH/201, subject to satisfactory due diligence and procurement compliance and budget availability.
c) Agrees to proceed with the land acquisition as referenced in Section 5.3 of report CH/201, subject to satisfactory due diligence and procurement compliance and budget availability.
d) That, subject to recommendations (b) and (c) being approved, delegates authority to the Leader of the Council in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, Head of Strategic Housing/Head of Crawley Homes (as appropriate), Head of Governance, People & Performance to approve the award of the contract (including a procurement process if necessary).
e) That, subject to recommendations (b) and (c) being approved, delegates the negotiation, approval (including a procurement process if necessary) and completion of all relevant legal documentation to secure additional affordable housing for the acquisitions identified in Sections 5.2 and 5.3 of report CH/201 to the Head of Crawley Homes/Head of Strategic Housing (as appropriate), Head of Corporate Finance and Head of Governance, People & Performance, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Housing. (Generic Delegations 2 & 3 will be used to enact this recommendation).
Reasons for the Recommendations
The Council has an active housing delivery programme aimed at addressing the pressing need for affordable housing in the borough, where Crawley has a limited land supply, and opportunities need to be explored from across the market, which may arise in a range of different forms, and Officers require the authority to explore viable options that may arise, and to proceed into contract when appropriate, following the necessary consultation.
7 Future Acquisitions for Affordable Housing Delivery
Exempt Paragraph 3
Information relating to financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information)
To consider report CH/201 of the Head of Crawley Homes.
Minutes:
Exempt Paragraph 3
Information relating to financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information)
The Commission considered report CH/201 of the Head of Crawley Homes. The report sought approval to acquire affordable housing opportunities from the market, to be funded from the HRA Acquisitions Budget for Crawley Homes ownership.
During the discussion with the Cabinet Member for Housing and the Housing Enabling & Development Manager, the following comments were made:
· Recognition that it would allow officers to explore opportunities and viable options from across the market in different forms and to proceed when appropriate, following the necessary consultation.
· Acknowledgement that the options proposed had significant potential to contribute towards addressing Crawley’s housing needs and would ease the reliance on expensive nightly paid accommodation.
· Clarification was sought and obtained on the financial details and the various options documented within the report.
· Confirmation provided on the recommendations that they were in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.
RESOLVED
That the Commission noted the report and requested that the views expressed during the debate, were fed back to the Cabinet through the Commission’s Comment sheet.