Decision details

1.

Title of Item/Report

Scrutiny Review of Affordable Housing - Final Report of Place Select Committee

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report that presented the outcomes of the Place Select Committee’s review of Affordable Housing.

Affordable Housing were homes for those whose housing needs were not met by the private market. This included affordable rent, social rent, rent to buy schemes, shared ownership schemes and discounts for market sale / first homes.

The demand for affordable and social rented housing in the Borough was increasing across all needs groups e.g. families, singles and couples, those with health needs, and those seeking supported housing to enable independent living, as well as all housing bands.  However, the number of properties being advertised per week had reduced. The number of people on the register therefore outstripped number of affordable homes currently available and being built and is projected to do so going forward. The aim of the review was to identify potential options for how the Council could increase the supply of affordable rented housing in the Borough and therefore address the housing need.

The Committee had taken evidence from several relevant SBC services and stakeholder organisations, including Planning Services, Lettings & Nominations Team, three Registered Providers: Beyond Housing, North Star and Thirteen, and three private developers: Keepmoat, Storey and Taylor Whimpey North Yorkshire. To ascertain how other LA’s were meeting their housing needs best practice was sought from Northern Housing Consortium and LGA who shared a variety of projects being carried out across the country. A report by a local resident group, Housing Action Teesside, was also reflected upon.  

RESOLVED that:-

1. The outcomes of the Affordable Housing Option Appraisal to date are supported, and officers be requested to carry out further investigation into a hybrid model to address the borough’s affordable housing need, which should include:

•         Enabling (which may include for example the Council seeking an increased requirement for the provision of affordable housing on sites the Council owns i.e. above our minimum planning requirement)

•         Partnerships with Registered Providers and Developers – partnerships may be a single partner or several partners and can come from a variety of sectors

•         Direct delivery (model to be determined)

2. Correspondence is sent to Central Government to ask that the regulations for returning empty homes back into use are reviewed to ensure a more streamlined and strengthened process.

3. Given the current demand for social/affordable housing, the Council (via its website and other means as appropriate) provide regular updates to applicants regarding general property availability and demand (for example with information on the average number of properties advertised per month/the average number of bids made on each property per month), in an attempt to manage applicant expectations.

4. Following Cabinet approval, and six months after the implementation of the revised Common Allocation Policy, an update be provided back to the Committee on the impact of banding changes (i.e. to provide a breakdown of applicants who have secured accommodation).

5. Council notes that Local Housing Allowance rates are not close to real costs, and local landlords are increasing rents to such a rate that people cannot afford, and this is putting pressure on local authorities to house people. Council therefore calls on central government to take this into consideration when reviewing Local Housing Rates and within the Renters Rights Bill.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

This topic was included on the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2024-2025.  The review is now complete, and the recommendations have been endorsed by the Place Select Committee for submission to Cabinet.

4.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

5.

Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

None

6.

Details of any Dispensations

None

7.

Date and Time by which Call In must be executed

Midnight Monday 28 April 2025