Issue - meetings

To consider and decide on the recommendations as set out in the associated report.

RESOLVED –

1.    That the release of Section 106 funding for affordable housing totalling £613,056 held by the Council in lieu of affordable housing provision at the Former Kent & Sussex Hospital site (Planning permission 12/02547) be approved; and

2.    That the Head of Housing, Health and Environment, in consultation with the Head of Legal Partnership, be authorised to enter into a grant agreement and all associated legal documentation with Town & Country Housing to facilitate the delivery of fourteen social rented homes, Ten x 1 and 2 bed flats at Hop Pocket Inn site in Paddock Wood and 4 flats at Homewood Road, Langton Green.

REASON FOR DECISION: To support the delivery of much needed social rental properties.

Sarah Holmes, Housing Register and Development Manager introduced the report as set out in the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

-       It was confirmed that the funding total was £613,056.

-       The amount of funding left from the Kent and Sussex site was £750k.  At present no projects had been identified for its use.

-       The subsidy on the Hop Pocket Inn site had changed.  It was originally £400k but this had now been reduced by £23,154 (£376,846).

RESOLVED –

1.    That the release of Section 106 funding for affordable housing totalling £613,056 held by the Council in lieu of affordable housing provision at the Former Kent & Sussex Hospital site (Planning permission 12/02547) be approved; and

2.    That the Head of Housing, Health and Environment, in consultation with the Head of Legal Partnership, be authorised to enter into a grant agreement and all associated legal documentation with Town & Country Housing to facilitate the delivery of fourteen social rented homes, Ten x 1 and 2 bed flats at Hop Pocket Inn site in Paddock Wood and 4 flats at Homewood Road, Langton Green.

REASON FOR DECISION: To support the delivery of much needed social rental properties.

To consider and provide a recommendation to Cabinet on the proposals set out in the attached report.

Sarah Holmes, Housing Register and Development Manager, introduced the report set out in the agenda. The following additional comments were made:

·         Prospective rents for the properties in Paddock Wood as noted in paragraph 2.19 of the report were exclusive of £12 per week service charges.

Discussion included:

·         The focus on facilitating social rental properties, rather than ‘affordable’ rents, was welcome.

·         The developer contributions had been agreed some years ago. However, payment was only made on completion of a majority of units therefore the Council had only received the funds recently.

·         Several developer contribution funded schemes had come to completion recently. The timing was coincidental.

·         The properties would provide a mixture of single occupancy and two-person occupancy properties, those most in demand.

·         Single occupancy properties were rare and not affordable, even at ‘affordable’ rents. Social rents were affordable and so it would be viable for a single person to be accommodated in a two-person property.

·         Additional social rented properties would relieve demand for emergency and temporary accommodation. Emergency accommodation cost the Council £45 per night and the average stay was 8 weeks. The Council’s supply of temporary accommodation was full.

·         The opportunities for assisting the provision of social rental properties were few. Town and Country Housing were currently the only housing association interested in the provision of new social rental properties.

·         Policies within the Draft Local Plan contain requirements for a greater proportion of new properties to be provided for social rent.

RESOLVED – That the recommendations set out in the report be supported.