Agenda item

To receive questions from Members under Rules 4a.20(b)-25

1. Councillor Louise Potter asked Jonathan Chowen, Leader of the Council, the following question:

“In issuing their statement on water neutrality, Natural England has given us an opportunity to improve the current Local Plan. The Liberal Democrats welcome this and look forward to contributing to those changes.  

“Although many will welcome an attempt to reduce the overall housing numbers, improve standards and increase the percentage of affordable homes - it brings much anxiety to residents that the new Leader may try to put the previously considered site at Rookwood back into the plan.  Fears are particularly heightened in light of the new Leader’s commitment to developing the site when he was the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture. 

“Members will recall the unprecedented public opposition to the proposed development of Rookwood and, on removing it from the plan, the Cabinet at that time assured us that they had listened and learnt. 

“Will the Leader confirm that he will honour the commitment of his predecessors and rule out developing on Rookwood?”

The Leader of the Council replied:

“Rookwood was removed from the emerging Local Plan before Natural England issued their water neutrality decision statement.  That statement highlighted the impact of water extraction in the south of the district on the habitat of particular species and caused a pause on development.  It is highly likely this will result in a significant reduction in our ability to meet centrally imposed housing targets.  Under those circumstances, we will need fewer strategic sites rather than more so there is no need to reconsider Rookwood.”

Councillor Potter asked a supplementary question:

“Can you therefore confirm that you personally will not promote the development of Rookwood for either housing or other purposes that might reduce its amenity as long as you are acting as Leader of Horsham District Council?”

In reply, the Leader of the Council read out the following statement that had been made by the previous Leader and Deputy Leader: 

“ ‘The Council is now under new Leadership and enhancing our green spaces and listening to public consultation are vital in building trust in our Leadership.  Not allocating Rookwood in the Local Plan was the wish of the public at that stage and following a year which has seen increased golfing activity your Councillors have listened.  It is vital that we engage with local groups and find out how we can best use Council owned land at Rookwood.  We are committed and still committed to listening and engaging over the next two years before making any longer term commitments on the future of Rookwood’.

“I agree with this statement from the previous Leader and Deputy Leader.”    

Councillor Potter responded by saying she didn’t think residents would be put completely at ease by the Leader’s reply, but she looked forward to seeing how things progressed.

2. Councillor Martin Boffey asked Councillor Trisha Youtan, Cabinet Member for Housing & Public Protection, the following question:

“At the Council meeting on 13 October, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection advised Members of the number of affordable homes delivered in the district in the last seven years, including those for rent.  However, quite understandably at the time, when asked by me no figure was immediately available for how many of these homes were for Social Rent.  Please could the Cabinet Member now confirm how many new Social Rented homes were delivered in the Horsham District over the same period, being the last seven years?”

The Cabinet Member replied:

“Horsham District Council has successfully delivered 1,684 new affordable homes since 2014.  Of these 952 have been delivered as Affordable Rental homes for households with an identified housing need on the Council’s housing register with the remaining 732 being delivered for intermediate housing for Shared Ownership. To answer Councillor Boffey’s question, none of the Affordable Rented homes were classified as Socially Rented homes. However, Affordable Rents are broadly speaking set at 80% of market rent levels compared to 60% for Social Rented homes.  Affordable Rents are capped at the relevant local housing allowance rate for an area meaning that they are affordable for lower income families that may need financial support through housing benefit or the housing element of the universal credit in the same way Socially Rented homes would be. 

“It is also worth mentioning that there have been a number of changes in the sector since 2015 which have seen a focus on low-cost home ownership options being funded, annual rent reductions between 2015 and 2019, and the introduction of Affordable Rent as an affordable tenure.  The purpose of this was to enable registered providers and housing associations to not only provide a suitable safe and affordable home to those that need them but also to generate additional income to be reinvested in the development of affordable housing.  Our continued high delivery numbers are testament to this.  I am really proud of our track record in this area in securing so many Affordable Rented homes and providing a solution to those that are in housing need on our housing register.”

Councillor Boffey thanked the Cabinet Member for the response to his question.  He noted that when this Council passed the resolution to look more closely at Social Rented housing for the future, it showed a commitment to the importance of this as a scheme.  He stated that is was therefore important to know where Horsham District Council was starting from so that there was a clear view of where it needed to move forward to in the future.