Issue - meetings
Delivering New Council Housing in the District - update
Meeting: 07/10/2014 - Cabinet (Item 45)
45 Delivering New Council Housing in the District - update 
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(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Leytham)
Report of Chief Officer (Health & Housing)
Minutes:
(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Leytham)
Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Health & Housing) which provided an update on the progress being made to establish a council house building and acquisition programme, and sought Cabinet approval to move to a detailed appraisal of potential development sites.
The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:
Approval of Council owned sites for Stage 2 appraisal
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Option 1: All the Council owned sites identified in the report go to Stage 2 detailed appraisal |
Option 2: Cabinet prioritises which the Council owned HRA sites identified in the report go to Stage 2 detailed appraisal |
Option 3: None of the sites identified in the report go to Stage 2 detailed appraisal |
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Advantages |
An initial programme of council house building can be established. Initial council housing building programme more financially sustainable due to minimal land purchase costs. Full appraisal undertaken to establish viability of all proposed sites allowing programming options to be considered with full information. |
Option to prioritise and target council housing building programme within the district to existing council HRA land. An initial programme of council house building can be established. Initial council housing building programme more financially sustainable due to no land purchase costs.
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The HRA Business Support Reserve will have greater funds to support other HRA service improvements. |
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Disadvantages |
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Not all potential sites are fully appraised.
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Land will need to be acquired to deliver a council housing building programme, and this will impinge on the viability of any development through increased costs resulting in a smaller new build programme being delivered. |
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Risks |
Potential for abortive appraisal costs. |
Potential for abortive appraisal costs. |
The council housing building programme is either smaller or not delivered at all. |
Acquisition of land for council housing
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Option 1: The Council adopts a land acquisition strategy to enable the development of the new council housing |
Option 2: The Council does not adopt a land acquisition strategy to enable the development of the new council housing |
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Advantages |
Sufficient land is made available to support new council housing development. |
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Disadvantages |
Outcome more costly than developing existing council owned sites. |
Insufficient land is made available to support new council housing development. |
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Risks |
Acquiring land for council housing would be a competitive process against commercial developers, and purchase cost may make development unviable. Potential for abortive appraisal costs. |
The Council’s ambitions to build new council housing are not delivered. |
Establishing a “delivery team” – SmartBuild™
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Option 1: Explore the feasibility of introducing a SmartBuild™ delivery model |
Option 2: Do not explore the feasibility of introducing a SmartBuild™ delivery model |
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Advantages |
Uses local delivery teams where possible to ensure investment is retained within the local community. Opportunity to build and enhance the capacity and capability of in-house RMS team. Local training, apprentice and employment opportunities. Potential tighter control of development costs.
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None |
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Disadvantages |
Potentially extended lead in time to building up organisation and skills. |
Opportunity to enhance the ... view the full minutes text for item 45 |