Members of the Corporate Performance Panel and Environment & Community Panel are invited to attend the meeting for this item of Business.
Minutes:
Those present were reminded that Members of the Environment and Community Panel and Corporate Performance Panel had been invited to the meeting for this item.
The Senior Housing Development Officer presented the report which presented the proposed Business Plans for West Norfolk Property and West Norfolk Housing Company. It was explained that the Shareholder Agreements for the company required the Board of Directors to provide a draft updated business plan annually for the Shareholder Committee to comment on and endorse. The Business plans could not be adopted or varied unless the Shareholder has given consent.
The Business plans were currently in draft format and more detail on the financial modelling would follow. The Panels would have a further opportunity to consider the business plans before they were finalised. The Senior Housing Development Officer outlined the national and local issues affecting the private rented sector and the important role that the Companies played in delivering Social rented housing and quality private sector rented housing.
The Assistant Director acknowledged that the Business Plans were still incomplete and further detail was required on costs, income and investments. This would be updated after the loan facility proposals had been considered by the Council. He commented that the Boards were both relevant and met the Council’s objective to fulfil the housing role, including the need for affordable housing options and to bring forward more housing. He also made reference to the heavy reliance on bed and breakfast temporary accommodation which was unsuitable.
The Panel was invited to comment and consider the draft business plans.
Councillor Dark asked if now was the right time to make the decision as the Business Plans were still in draft and Council had not yet considered the loan facility proposals for the Council. The Assistant Director acknowledged that there was a timing issue, but the Business plans set out the strategic ambition, with figures to follow.
In response to a question from Councillor Collingham, the Assistant Director explained the role of the two companies and their relationship to other Social Housing Providers. He explained that West Norfolk Housing Company was set up to increase the capacity of social housing in the Borough and deliver affordable housing. It was a Registered Provider of Social Housing and had acquired affordable homes and leased flats at Broad Street that were used for temporary accommodation. Properties acquired were managed and maintained through a management company.
West Norfolk Property had been set up to acquire properties from the Council to rent out privately and create a revenue stream.
The Senior Housing Development Officer explained that a fact sheet was being created to clarify the role of each Company and Councillor Collingham commented that a Councillor Briefing on the role of the Companies would be useful.
Councillor Kemp commented that there was a need for more housing and that acquisition was better than spend on bed and breakfast, especially if some people were being sent outside of the Borough for temporary accommodation. The Assistant Director explained that a new strategy was being discussed with the Homelessness and Housing Delivery Task Group to tackle homelessness issues and the use of temporary accommodation.
Councillor Long welcomed the draft Business Plans and, having been involved in their inception, commented that the ethos behind them was still right and proper and benefitted the people of West Norfolk. He welcomed the consideration of adding additional housing stock and providing quality housing for rent. The Assistant Director explained that initially there had been gaps in temporary accommodation, which was why the Broad Street Flats were acquired and further opportunities would be investigated to meet demand.
In response to a question from Councillor Bone it was explained that different types of properties would be looked at going forward including affordable rented homes and shared ownership. To date the general needs homes had been built on Council development sites. Reference was also made to the homes that would be made available through the Local Authority Housing Fund.
Councillor Bubb asked what arrangements were in place for maintenance of homes and it was explained that management agreements could be considered if there were additional needs.
The Portfolio Holder for People and Communities, Councillor Rust commented that steps needed to be taken to support families and individuals needing help and the different demographics of rough sleepers and those in need of temporary accommodation needed to be considered. She commented that it was important to open up opportunities to move away from bed and breakfast accommodation.
Councillor Crofts requested that less acronyms be used in the report.
In response to a question from Councillor Crofts, it was explained that shared ownership percentages were flexible and the right to acquire also existed for social housing tenants.
Councillor Bhondi commented that there was a need for housing and the council was providing options to meet the needs of the Borough.
Councillor Dark commented that the Council had a responsibility for housing and the Companies provided a mechanism to take direct action.
Councillor Blunt supported the draft Business Plans but raised concern that the viability and ability to have an offer of houses that met particular circumstances needed to be considered. The Assistant Director explained that the financial proposals with the Council would need to be looked at alongside looking at various other funding opportunities.
The Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Events and Marketing, Councillor Ring commented that the Companies were limited in what they could do, but this would change as the Companies became more credit worthy and had a history of trading. He endorsed the Business Plans and commented that they were a great mechanism to help people in the Borough and create a revenue stream for the Council.
Councillor Beales, Portfolio Holder for Business thanked the Panel Members for their comments and explained that technical information and information on legislative requirements could be added to the Business Plans if required. He outlined the implications of opportunities such as the accelerated construction programme and external factors such as market pace and cost of resources.
RESOLVED: That, jointly, the Panels support the draft West Norfolk Property and West Norfolk Housing Company Business Plans, having due regard to the strategic outcomes defined in the Councils Corporate Strategy in respect of the provision of affordable housing and the comments made by the Panels would be passed to the Shareholder Committee as appropriate.