Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Housing

RESOLVED THAT

A cross party Cabinet Member Working Group (CMWG) be set up to consider and recommend viability assessments received from Cheltenham Borough Homes. The CMWG will challenge each site proposal to prioritise and maximise the social benefit with an ambition to not only meet but exceed the council’s minimum 40% social/affordable housing target.

The Cabinet Member Housing referred to Council’s unanimous approval of its Housing Investment Plan on 15th October 2018 Council. This plan set out the potential to provide loan funding of up £100m to Cheltenham Borough Homes in order to bring about a step change in the delivery of affordable housing and private rented accommodation (to be let on a long-term basis) across the Borough. At the Council meeting Cllr Babbage had proposed an amendment which was approved to request the establishment of a cross party Cabinet Member Working Group. This would provide greater oversight and challenge, and would in turn provide greater confidence that the Authority was maximising the opportunities that were available to deliver affordable homes over and above what the market might otherwise provide. The Cabinet Member wished to put on record his thanks to Cllr Babbage for his valued input.   

RESOLVED THAT

A cross party Cabinet Member Working Group (CMWG) be set up to consider and recommend viability assessments received from Cheltenham Borough Homes. The CMWG will challenge each site proposal to prioritise and maximise the social benefit with an ambition to not only meet but exceed the council’s minimum 40% social/affordable housing target.