Agenda and draft minutes

To receive the notes of the meeting held on 22^nd January 2018.

The notes of the meeting held 22^nd January 2018 were received.

The Head of Housing Services provided the Advisory Group with an update on the delivery of the Affordable Housing Investment. This included the journey so far, the objectives and the options available.

The four options for the acquisition of housing stock were through: Housing Revenue Account, General Fund, a Joint Venture or an Affordable Housing Company.

The first three options had been considered and discounted and the reasons for this were outlined in the presentation. The Affordable Housing Company was the recommended option that was being considered.

Mark Baigent Consulting Limited attended the meeting, Members asked a number of questions on the subject of setting up a housing company.

The Group noted that, to date, 150 councils across the country had set up housing companies and overall they had been successful.

The Group discussed the recommended option and were given a copy of the details to take away and consider. The Members were invited to submit any comments, questions or feedback to the Head of Housing Services over the forthcoming weeks to be incorporated into a detailed business case. The Members requested that the Advisory Group be given a chance to consider the business case before it was presented to Cabinet in July.

It was also suggested that the proposal and business case be presented to full Council.

The Group noted the information and Members would submit feedback in the forthcoming weeks.

The Head of Housing Services presented the report on the Allocation of Section 106 Commuted Sum Funding of Countryside Development at Broadbridge Heath.

The Advisory Group noted that Horsham District Council proposed to recycle S106 commuted sum funding collected in respect of the wider Wickhurst Green development to uplift the number of affordable units considered to be viable from six to the twenty four now being delivered by Clarion Housing Group.

The payment of commuted sum funding will enable the Council to secure ten affordable rented homes and the site would also provide fourteen shared ownership homes.

The Council would retain 100% initial nomination rights of tenants.

Members questioned the timescales for finishing the development, the Head of Housing Services would circulate the anticipated timeframe.

The Group noted that the Council would be much closer to the delivery the target of 240 affordable homes.

The Advisory Group noted the report.

To note the Forward Plan extract (if any) for the Housing and Public Protection Portfolio

The Forward Plan Extract for Housing and Public Protection was noted.