Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on the New Council Homes Programme (NCHP) along with an outline of current pressures on schemes both in contract and those in the pipeline highlighting any viability gaps identified as a result and options for cross subsidisation.  The report also includes an overview of the three major projects being led by the Council, South Kilburn, Wembley Housing Zone and St Raphael’s Estate.

Cabinet noted the comments made by Councillor Georgiou who had requested to speak at the meeting in respect of the item.  In addressing Cabinet Councillor Georgiou whilst recognising the increasing demand for affordable social housing and welcoming the update provided within the report, sought clarification in relation to the number of new Council homes which had been developed and let to date under the New Council Homes Programme along with a breakdown on rent levels and tenure, including any provided under a shared ownership model.  In expressing concern at the definition and inclusion of shared ownership as an affordable housing product, Councillor Georgiou supported the need for a more detailed review around the demand for shared ownership within Brent prior to any new Brent Shared Ownership offer being considered.  Pending this he urged Cabinet to consider rejecting the approach outlined within the report towards the conversion of schemes offering units at London Affordable Rent to Shared Ownership and also to consider preventing developers using shared ownership as an alternative to offering what he felt were more genuinely affordable housing products.

In responding to the comments raised, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) felt it important to recognise the pressure on the Council to address increasing demand for the provision of affordable social housing across the borough along with the difficult nature of choices needing to be made around available options, given the significant challenges in meeting the level of need identified.  In view of the clarification being sought, Councillor Butt advised he would arrange for a detailed response to be provided on the issues raised by Councillor Georgiou outside of the meeting.

Having considered the comments made Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)      To note the content of the report and approve (as a result of clarification provided) the following officers, namely Corporate Director Residents Services and Corporate Director Communities & Regeneration being authorised in respect of projects which are the responsibility of their departments (in consultation with Cabinet Members for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security & Regeneration and Planning respectively):

·             To convert schemes to include alternative tenures, either shared ownership or open market sale, with a view to making schemes viable and prioritise delivery of larger homes;

·             To utilise conversion in larger schemes to address financial pressures on schemes currently in contract;

·             To utilise conversion in larger schemes in order to address viability gaps for schemes not yet in contract but would provide much needed larger family sized accommodation.

(2)      To note the update provided for the Wembley Housing Zone.

(3)      To note the update provided for St Raphael’s estate.

(4)      To approve that all new planning permission applications submitted as part of the New Council Homes Programme (NCHP) going forward commit to 50% affordable housing with a view to delivering above this wherever possible.

(5)      To approve a capital budget allocation of £44m (including 10% contingency) for the development at Edgware Road.

(6)      To delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Resident Services, in consultation with the Corporate Director for Finance & Resources  ...  view the full decision text for item 8

Prior to consideration of the item, Councillor Muhammed Butt (Leader of the Council) advised that he had accepted a request to speak on the report from Councillor Georgiou.  In addressing Cabinet, Councillor Georgiou whilst recognising the increasing demand for affordable social housing and welcoming the update provided within the report sought clarification in relation to the number of new Council homes which had been developed and let to date under the New Council Homes Programme along with a breakdown on rent levels and tenure, including any provided under a shared ownership model.  In expressing concern at the definition and inclusion of shared ownership as an affordable housing product, Councillor Georgiou supported the need for a more detailed review around the demand for shared ownership within Brent prior to any new Brent Shared Ownership offer being considered.  Pending this, he urged Cabinet to consider rejecting the approach outlined within the report towards the conversion of schemes offering units at London Affordable Rent to Shared Ownership and also to consider preventing developers using shared ownership as an alternative to offering what he felt were more genuinely affordable housing products.

In responding to the comments raised, Councillor Muhammed Butt felt it important to recognise the pressure on the Council to address increasing demand for the provision of affordable social housing across the borough along with the difficult nature of choices needing to be made around available options, given the significant challenges in meeting the level of need identified.  In view of the clarification being sought, Councillor Butt advised he would arrange for a detailed response to be provided on the issues raised by Councillor Georgiou outside of the meeting.

Councillor Knight (Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security) was then invited to introduce the report which provided an update on the New Council Homes Programme (NCHP) along with an outline of the current pressures on the delivery of those schemes, both within contract and also in the pipeline, including details on the viability gaps identified and options to address them.  In addition, the report also provided an overview on progress against three major projects being led by the Council in relation to South Kilburn, Wembley Housing Zone and St Raphael’s Estate.

In considering the report and commending the progress made to date in delivery of the NCHP, Cabinet also recognised the social and economic factors now placing pressure on the viability of schemes already on site as well as those within the pipeline.  Alongside the impact of rising inflation and construction costs, the shortage of labour and materials members noted the impact of wider changes within the housing market that were reducing both the supply of social homes for rent and affordable rented homes within the private rented sector.  This in turn had increased pressure on the Housing Need service to meet levels of demand, whilst fulfilling their statutory duties.

In terms of addressing the issues identified, members noted the options outlined for addressing the viability gaps outlined for each scheme on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8