Issue - meetings

RESOLVED: That

1.  The contents of the report be noted.

2.  The Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to enter into “Local Authority Grant Agreement for the Affordable Homes Programme 2021 to 2026”, with Homes England as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

(See Record of Decision)

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Health introduced the report and stated that:

• The Council had 277 residential units in management of which 29 were affordable;
  
  
• A new Business and Housing Development team had been established to support the strategy and was performing well. A strong pipeline of schemes totalling 605 homes had been developed, with further schemes expected to come forward for approval in 2024;
  
  
• The report set out the current operating environment, including risks, opportunities and the status of the Council’s bid to Homes England for a social housing grant. Approval was sought to enter into the funding agreement with them; and
  
  
• The strategy would be flexible in the short-term by focusing on land banking to secure more opportunities whilst the market was depressed, and partnership working where possible to reduce the risk associated with some of the larger upcoming sites. The amount of internal subsidy per affordable homes built and the housing investment fund should remain unchanged.

In response to questions, the Director of Regeneration and Place stated that the Council was exploring the delivery of social rent properties and that upcoming schemes would be in line with the new building regulations and future home standards, such as the Maidstone East and Springfield Library sites, to include enhanced insulation and communal air source heat pumps. 

The Committee expressed support for the update provided and the strategy generally.

RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to the CABINET: That

1. The contents of the report, be noted; and
   
   
2. The Director of Finance and Business Improvement, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to enter into “Local Authority Grant Agreement for the Affordable Homes Programme 2021 to 2026”, with Homes England as detailed in Appendix 1, on the most advantageous grant rates achievable for the Council through the grant bidding process.