Issue - meetings

The purpose of this report is to update Cabinet on progress in response to a scrutiny recommendation relating to an Affordable Housing review undertaken in 2018 on Community Led Housing (CLH).  As part of the update, the report seeks approval to ring-fence a site on Brentfield Road for the purpose of CLH through an established group - Brent Community Land Trust (BCLT).

Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1)    Agree to ring-fence the Brentfield Road site, set out in Appendix 1 of the report, for Brent Community Land Trust for the purpose of Community Led Housing and commit to issuing a letter of intent confirming this arrangement.

(2)    Agree to the principal of the Council entering into a lease agreement for nil value for the land at the Brentfield Road Site, outlined in Appendix 1 of the report, subject to the following criteria being met;

a.          That Brent Community Land Trust have been granted planning permission for the proposed development on the site.

b.          That Brent Community Land Trust have secured funding for the proposed development.

c.          That Brent Community Land Trust can evidence the scheme’s financial viability.

d.          That Brent Community Land Trust produce and deliver a plan for Co-production with residents living on the existing estate and ensure residents are represented throughout their decision making process, including presence on their Board.

(3)    Agree the Brentfield Road Site will be ring-fenced for 12-months only from the date of the letter of intent being issued to allow the Brent Community Land Trust to seek planning and carry out a viability assessment, and if the criteria in (2) above have not been achieved, a follow up report will be bought to Cabinet to determine whether the site will continue to be ringfenced for CLH with Brent Community Land Trust.

Councillor Knight (Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness & Renters Security) presented a report that updated Cabinet on progress achieved following a recommendation made as part of a 2018 scrutiny review on Affordable Housing for the Council to explore Community Led Housing (CLH) as an avenue of affordable housing delivery, specifically centred around resident co-production.

In considering the report, members were advised that in seeking to explore the use of CLH the Council had identified a potential option to work with an established group Brent Community Land Trust (BCLT) who had already formed and expressed a commitment to deliver this type of housing scheme.  This had subsequently led to the identification of a potential site on Brentfield Road to take forward for the purpose of delivering the first CLH scheme in Brent through BCLT.

Recognising the need to consider all available options for the delivery of affordable housing across the borough, given the increasing demand for housing and ongoing impact of the cost-of-living crisis, Cabinet welcomed the approach outlined which it was felt also demonstrated the Council’s ambition to enhance community involvement in addressing the housing crisis.  As an initial pilot members advised they were keen to learn and develop best practice given the different routes into CLH.  Cabinet was assured that whilst BCLT were currently the only group who had approached the Council in support of this ambition, that would not preclude encouragement or support being provided for other community groups looking for similar opportunities to lead on future schemes, should they come forward.

In concluding, members also took the opportunity to thank Crisis, who it was recognised had been integral in supporting BCLT throughout the CLH process.  Having considered the report, Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)           To agree to ring-fence the Brentfield Road site, set out in Appendix 1 of the report, for Brent Community Land Trust for the purpose of Community Led Housing and commit to issuing a letter of intent confirming this arrangement.

(2)           To agree to the principal of the Council entering into a lease agreement for nil value for the land at the Brentfield Road Site, outlined in Appendix 1 of the report, subject to the following criteria being met;

(a)    That Brent Community Land Trust had been granted planning permission for the proposed development on the site.

(b)    That Brent Community Land Trust had secured funding for the proposed development.

(c)    That Brent Community Land Trust could evidence the scheme’s financial viability.

(d)    That Brent Community Land Trust produced and delivered a plan for co-production with residents living on the existing estate and ensured residents were represented throughout their decision making process, including presence on their Board.

It was noted that Cabinet approval would be sought ahead of the lease being entered into.

(3)           To agree the Brentfield Road Site will be ring-fenced for 12-months only from the date of the letter of intent being issued to allow the Brent Community Land Trust to seek planning and carry out a viability assessment, and if the criteria  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8