Agenda item

Housing Matters Part 1

The report was presented by the Housing Programme Manager who explained the decisions which had been proposed at Mayor and Cabinet and confirmed a further report would be made in July.

Councillor Carl Handley said he had been present at the meeting and stated the Mayor was broadly sympathetic to the suggestions and policy directions suggested by his Select Committee. He welcomed the fact residents views had been taken into account and Housing Associations would not form part of any preferred solution. He commended efforts being made to build new homes and reiterated his belief that Lewisham Homes should take steps towards training tenants who would be equipped to take up future positions on the governing Board. He said if transfer to a tenant led organisation did take place the Council should be satisfied any such body shared its aspirations particularly with regard to building new homes.

Councillor John Paschoud said he believed there was potential for conflict between the interests of current tenants and leaseholders versus those of currently unknown but potential future tenants, which could stall any ambitious new house building programme. The Chair said he was more optimistic and pointed to the survey results which said 9 in every 10 of the current tenants polled supported the provision of affordable housing as a priority activity.

The Chair welcomed the reduction of future consideration to two options. He further stated he believed Lewisham Homes as a matter of urgency should consider the democratisation of the recruitment of Tenants and Residents as Board members and that this view again be put to the Mayor.

Councillor Paschoud asked if their were any constraints in the Lewisham Homes Constitution preventing popular election of Tenant representatives. The Head of Law said she would find out subsequent to the meeting.

RESOLVED that the decision of the Mayor be noted and that he be asked to consider the democratisation of the appointment of tenant and resident representatives on the Lewisham Homes Board.

Housing Matters Part 2

The report was presented by the Housing Programme Manager who said there were two main elements, one proposing consultation on four sites in existing council ownership and a second concerning two bids to the GLA fund for supported housing.

Councillor Fletcher expressed concerns about the scale of proposals at the site proposed in her ward and said she believed there would be significant planning problems and local objections.

The Chair said the Panel was not the appropriate body to consider the Planning merits of the individual sites but that he believed officers should ensure that the appropriate ward members should be consulted about proposals planned for their areas.

Councillor Fletcher asked if the initial capacity study mentioned in the report could be provided. The Housing Programme Manager said a longer list of sites to be considered in the next 12-24 months could be provided. The Chair added he could see no merit in providing a further list of sites that had been considered and already deemed unsuitable.

The Chair said he would expect a further report on proposed sites to be considered at the first Housing Select Committee meeting in the next municipal year.

Councillor Paschoud said the report’s financial implications did not appear to reflect the business model. The Head of Business Management and Service Support said the financial implications were appropriate for the work done so far and that a proper financial model would be developed as proposals emerged.

The Chair concluded that the Panel supported working up proposals and that additional information on sites should be presented to both Housing Select Committee and Business Panel members in the first cycle of the new municipal year. He also said a preliminary assessment of costs should come to the Mayor and Cabinet at an early stage and be fed into the Housing Strategy.

RESOLVED that the decision of the Mayor be noted.

Assets of Community Value

The report was presented by the Head of Law who said the proposals represented a community right to bid rather than a community right to buy.

Councillor Paschoud queried the Scheme of Delegation saying there did not appear to be a political input. The Head of Law said that was by design as there was no discretion and statutory guidance stipulated decisions were to be taken by officers judging applications strictly in accordance with a series of prescribed tests.

Councillor Handley asked if churches were eligible to apply and was informed by the Head of Law that as long as they met the tests to be regarded as an eligible community organisation, then yes they could.

Councillor Fletcher asked if Councillors could take part as members of an eligible community organisation and was informed that they could.

She further asked if information could be provided about Community Interest Companies and was informed by the Head of Law that she had a short paper she could provide after the meeting.

The Chair said he believed there should be a regular review of the scheme and the apparent financial implications for the local authority should be linked to a political process. He added further representations ought to be made to the DCLG regarding the compensation arrangements and that individual councils should not be expected to foot the bills. He proposed that representations calling for fair financing of arrangements for the listing of assets of community value be made to the government. The Head of Law said she would be happy to do that.

RESOLVED that the decision of the Mayor be noted and representations be made to the DCLG calling for the fair financing of compensation for the listing of assets of community value.