Decision details

Cheltenham Borough Council, Cotswold District Council, Gloucester City Council, Forest of Dean District Council, Stroud District Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council are seeking to commission a comprehensive survey of the private sector housing stock within their respective areas.

This decision is to participate in this private sector house condition and energy efficiency survey, which is to be procured by Stroud District Council, acting as the lead authority and funded through the Better Care Fund administered by Gloucestershire County Council.

The aims of the house condition survey are:

•To take a systematic look at the private sector housing stock within the Councils’ areas to enable the Councils to update their Private Sector Housing Renewal Policies and define priorities over the next 5 years that meet local housing needs

• To help comply with the Council’s duties under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England & Wales) Order 2002 and the Housing Act 2004.

• Provide background information on the state of the private sector overall, set in the context of national or regional data and define the resources required to facilitate the effective targeting of that stock.

• Determine the cost savings to the National Health Service of removing Category 1 hazards identified under the Housing Health and Safety Rating system.

There is agreement that the funding of this house condition will be through the Better Care Fund and is to be procured by Stroud District Council, following their procurement rules, in accordance with a participation agreement. The participation agreement, compiled by One Legal, is to be signed by all the participating district authorities. A draft copy of this participation agreement is attached.

This is the only option that will achieve the objectives of the participant and funding authorities.

The roles of the participant authorities have been agreed and will be the subject of a formal agreement. Funding of the survey through the better care fund has also been agreed.

Director of Environment consulted on the rationale and principle of partnership participation by the authority.

Consultation has taken place between potential participant district authorities, the County Council and discussed by the relevant strategic directors of authorities involved.