Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment provided details on the Welsh Government (WG) consultation currently open concerning the Right to Buy and Right to Acquire and sought support for the proposed response to the consultation.

Social housing tenants had the ability to purchase their homes under the Right to Buy for Council tenants, or the Right to Acquire for tenants of a Registered Social Landlord (RSL). 

The Right to Buy Scheme in Wales gave tenants a discount of up to £16,000 on the market value of their home and the longer the person had been a tenant, the greater discount they could receive up to the maximum limit.

During the last 5 years the Council had sold 33 properties under the Right to Buy, generating a capital receipt of £549,325 from the 25% it was permitted to retain once the remainder had been returned to the treasury.  The capital receipt was a one off payment the Council received.  By comparison the 33 sold properties reduced income to the Council by £132,000 each year. 

There was currently a provision for councils to apply to WG to suspend the Right to Buy in specific areas for an initial five years and an application would be submitted over the coming months for that suspension, given that there was an intention to build 200 new Council homes over the next 5 years.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Welsh Government consultation currently open concerning the Right to Buy and the Right to Acquire be noted; and

(b)       That Flintshire County Council respond positively to the consultation and supports early implementation of the reduction to the discount, followed by the ending of the Right to Buy and Right to Acquire.