Decision details

The Homes Strategy for Lancaster District 2020-2025

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To present the draft Homes Strategy for Lancaster district and seek authority from Cabinet to consult.

Decisions:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Jackson)

 

Cabinet received a joint report from the Director for Communities and the Environment and Director for Economic Growth and Regeneration which presented the new Homes Strategy and Action Plan 2020-2025 for Lancaster District to Cabinet for initial endorsement and authority to consult.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

 

Option 1: Approve the draft Homes Strategy 2020-25

 Advantages: The council will have an up to date Housing Strategy within its policy framework. The Strategy outputs will make a significant contribution to increasing the provision of good quality energy efficient homes and affordable housing to meet those in the most housing need. It will positively contribute towards Climate Change mitigation. It will increase the portfolio of housing owned by Lancaster City Council. It will contribute to the council’s Investment Strategy. It ratifies the council’s commitment to jointly agreed priorities with other statutory organisations.

Disadvantages: The implementation of the Homes Strategy will have significant resource implications primarily but not exclusively in relation to capital funding.

Risks: The council will need to set up a Housing LATCo in order to bring forward a more diverse mix of housing tenures in Lancaster district. This is a new way of Page 86 working requiring specialist legal and finance advice initially as well as in the longer term impacting upon support services and separate governance arrangements will need to be established. Capital schemes identified have not yet been through a due diligence process to assess full costs and risks although an existing framework is already in place to assess proposed commercial investments. Future demand for housing but given the level of housing need identified and the standards being achieved. Market housing provision is a new area of business for the council but the existing council housing teams are well experienced to manage any PRS properties although outright sale units would be a new area of business for the council requiring proper market analysis and research.

 

Option 2: Do not approve the draft Homes Strategy 2020-25

Advantages: The council will not need to raise the capital and revenue funding required to implement the Homes Strategy.

Disadvantages: The council will not be contributing to increasing the supply of good quality energy efficient homes in Lancaster district. This will have wider implications upon the effectiveness of other approved Strategies i.e. the Homelessness Strategy 2020-23 by increasing the range of housing available to prevent homelessness. Limited opportunities/benefits around climate change mitigation. The council will primarily be an enabler rather than a provider of new housing.

Risks: The council will be less likely to achieve its agreed objectives and statutory duties around homelessness. The proposed regeneration of Mainway estate could lead to significant issues around the structure and quality of existing council properties. For schemes like Canal Quarter, the council as a key landowner could lose control in bringing forward a scheme which meets all its objectives and opportunities to generate cross subsidies. Lost opportunities to continue the regeneration of Morecambe and to diversify the affordable housing offer for older people relying solely on Registered Provider activity. Reputational damage.

 

The officer preferred option is Option 1. Lancaster City Council has the opportunity to approve an ambitious Homes Strategy for Lancaster district which will allow the council to commence programmes of new build housing, acquire and improve existing housing, diversify its housing offer, and most importantly, increase the choice and quality of housing across tenures to meet the need of its diverse communities, whilst making a positive contribution towards climate change mitigation. Cabinet is therefore asked to approve the draft Homes Strategy and Action Plan 2020-25 and allow a further period of consultation to engage with key stakeholders before final endorsement.

 

Councillor Jackson proposed, seconded by Councillor Hamilton-Cox:-

 

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

 

Councillors then voted:-

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)     That Cabinet approve the draft Homes Strategy and Action Plan 2020-2025 and   authorise officers to consult key partners and stakeholders.

 

(2)    That the Homes Strategy will then be adopted unless the consultation results in    any   proposed changes to the Action Plan which will be reported back to Cabinet for final endorsement.

 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Director for Communities and the Environment

Director for Economic Growth and Regeneration

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

The decision is consistent with the Council Priorities including Happy and Healthy Communities, a Sustainable District and an Inclusive and Prosperous Local Economy. The decision is also consistent with the Local Plan and contributes towards the provision of housing to meet a locally identified need and opportunities to increase the choice and supply of affordable housing. This Homes Strategy replaces the previous Housing Strategy 2012 – 2017.

 

Report author: Kathy Beaton

Publication date: 02/11/2020

Date of decision: 27/10/2020

Decided at meeting: 27/10/2020 - Cabinet

Effective from: 10/11/2020

Accompanying Documents: