Issue - meetings

Ther Leader of the Council (Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services) to submit a report detailing the acquisition of affordable homes enabling the Council to achieve its Right to Buy receipt spending requirements up to 2027/28.

Cabinet

1)    APPROVED the purchase of two houses from a new housing development in Melton.

2)    NOTED the intention to progress the purchase of eight new houses from the development in Marquis Gardens, Old Dalby.

3)    NOTED that in progressing these purchases, the Council will have achieved its Right to Buy receipt spending requirements up to 2027/28.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services, Councillor Allnatt, introduced the report. Allnatt moved the recommendations and Glancy seconded the motion.

Members had no comments to add.

RESOLVED

Cabinet

1)    APPROVED the purchase of two houses from a new housing development in Melton.

2)    NOTED the intention to progress the purchase of eight new houses from the development in Marquis Gardens, Old Dalby.

3)    NOTED that in progressing these purchases, the Council will have achieved its Right to Buy receipt spending requirements up to 2027/28.

(Key decision)

Reasons for recommendations

Delivering new council homes with RTB receipts will go towards meeting the corporate priority of providing high quality council homes and landlord services.

Increasing the Council’s stock of new homes will help to address the shortage of affordable homes in the Borough and reduce the number of applicants on the register for council housing.

The Government imposes deadlines for spending RTB receipts. A certain amount of funds has to be spent each financial year in order to avoid receipts being sent back to the Treasury with an interest penalty. The purchase of these homes will ensure that RTB receipts are spent on time.

The proposed acquisitions are affordable to the Housing Revenue Account. There is a budget allocated within the Council’s capital programme for the acquisition / development of new affordable homes.

The delivery of the new homes will be managed within existing staff resources.