WRITTEN RECORD OF A DECISION IN RESPECT OF AN EXECUTIVE FUNCTION TO BE COMPLETED BY THE RELEVANT DECISION-MAKER AND PROPER OFFICER

 

 

 

DECISION-MAKER:

Cabinet

DATE OF DECISION-MAKING:

16th June 2003

PORTFOLIO AREA:

Housing and Homes

DECISION REFERENCE:

CAB0008-2003JUN16

SUBJECT TITLE:

Allocation of the 2003/2004 Housing Association Programme

 

This record relates to the report appearing as item 11 on the agenda for the Decision-Making.

 

A copy of the report is available from:

Natasha Hart

Tel: 023 8083 2632

Email: n.hart@southampton.gov.uk

 

 

 

THE DECISION

 

Having read the report, including its recommendations and proposals, and following consideration of all other relevant matters, the decision-maker made the following decision.

 

Tick 4 ONE only, and complete the details if necessary.  Delete all that do not apply.

 

1.

 4

To approve the proposals / recommendations contained in the report

 

 

without modification as set out below. 

 

 

 

  1. To approve the revised Housing Association programme within the Housing and Homes General Fund Capital Programme as set out in Appendix Two, which will help to secure the completion of 72 new affordable homes in the City in 2003/04.
  2. To note the allocation of £10.198 Million from the Housing Corporation’s Approved Development Programme and Challenge Fund Programmes to housing associations in the city in 2003/04 which will enable the completion of 158 new affordable homes in the current financial year.
  3. To approve capital expenditure in accordance with the Council’s Finance Procedure Rules for the following housing association schemes to enable the start of 13 new affordable housing units in 2003/04:-

    Scheme                                  2003/2004       2004/2005       Total
                                                    £000’s             £000’s             £000’s

    Hyde – Seaweed PH               194                  10                    204
    Swaythling – 243 Wimpson
    Lane                                        66                    0                      66
    Swaythling – 6 Calder Close  76                    0                      76
    Eastleigh – 402-404 Spring
    Road                                       157                  0                      157
    Total                                        493                  10                    503

  4. To note the abolition of Local authority Social Housing Grant (LASHG) with effect from the 1st April 2003 and the introduction a transitional funding scheme by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister which will help to reimburse local authorities for the debt charges that will be incurred as a result of this change.
  5. To approve the allocation of capital expenditure to the following schemes within the uncommitted section of the Housing association Capital programme which, subject to the receipt of transitional funding, to enable the start of 40 new affordable housing units 2003/04:

    Scheme                                  2003/2004       2004/2005       Total
                                                    £000’s             £000’s             £000’s

    Eastleigh – Boundary Inn        550                  137                  687
    Eastleigh – 250 Coxford
    Road                                       42                    0                      42
    Eastleigh – 125 Bitterene
    Road West                              592                  148                  740
    Hyde – 32 Dale Valley Road   49                    0                      49
    Swaythling – Homebuy           289                  0                      289
    Total                                        1,522               285                  1,807

  6. To note the success of the 2002/03 housing association programme which enabled the completion of 342 new affordable housing units in the city last year.

 

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

 

 

 

·         The Council’s Housing Strategy 2003-2007 sets as a key priority the provision of more affordable housing in the City.  This priority reflects the high levels if housing need in the City confirmed by the Housing Needs & Housing Market Survey Update 2002, which identified a shortfall of 1,441 affordable housing units each year in the City to 2011.

·         The approval of the revised Housing Association programme combined with the Housing Corporation’s funding programme will contribute positively to the Housing Strategy’s priorities and the Medium Term Plan’s target to provide 300 new affordable homes in the city in 2003/04.

·         The allocation of housing association programme funding to the nine new housing association schemes outlined in this report will also enable the Council to submit claims for transitional funding from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), to help meet the costs that will be incurred by the Council as a result of the abolition of LASHG with effect from 1st April 2003.

 

DETAILS OF ANY ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

 

 

 

·         Formal scheme approval for all 9 of the proposed housing association projects outlined in this report could be sought.  However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not yet announced the detailed arrangements for transitional funding.  The Council is therefore unable to fully assess the revenue impact of committing the whole of the £2.310 Million contained in the 2003/4 new starts section of the housing association programme.  It would therefore be premature to seek scheme approval for projects where there are no existing financial or contractual commitments at this stage.  However indicative allocations to five schemes are being recommended in this report to enable them to be submitted to the ODPM for transitional funding.

·         In response to the government’s announcement to abolish LASHG the Council could decide not to proceed with the existing housing association programme included within the Housing and Homes Portfolio’s General fund Capital Programme.  However, this option has been rejected given the high level of housing need in the city and in recognition that contractual and financial commitments already exist on a number of schemes included in the programme.  A key priority of the Housing Strategy and the targets for new affordable homes set out in the Medium Term Plan and the City Performance Plan would also not be achieved if this option were pursued.

 

OTHER RELEVANT MATTERS CONCERNING THE DECISION

 

 

 

The following relevant matters not contained in the report were considered when making the decision:

 

NONE

 

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST DECLARED AND DISPENSATIONS GRANTED

 

 

 

Tick 4 ONE only, and complete the details if necessary.

 

 

 4

* The decision-maker(s) did not declare a personal or prejudicial interest in the

 

 

matters set out in the report.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE OF DECISION MAKER OR PERSON PRESIDING AND PROPER OFFICER

 

 

 

We certify that the decision this document records was made in accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2000 and is a true and accurate record of that decision.

 

 

Decision Maker or Person Presiding

 

Councillor Vinson

 

Dated:

 

16th June 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proper Officer

 

Sandra Grainger

 

Dated:

 

16th June 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Proper Officer” means the Solicitor to the Council or their nominated representative.  This function will usually be discharged by the Democratic Support Officer appointed to support the decision-making.

 

 

FOR USE BY DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT AND MEMBERS’ SERVICES

Call In Period

Wednesday 18th June to Tuesday 24th June 2003     

Date of Call-in (if applicable) (this suspends implementation)

23rd June, 2003

Call-in Procedure completed (the decision may now be implemented)

     

Results of Call-in / any other comments / observations: