Issue - meetings

That the Committee support an application to Welsh Government to suspend the Right to Buy in Flintshire.

The Service Manager for Housing Programmes presented a report seeking support for an application to Welsh Government (WG) to suspend the Right to Buy (RTB) of Council owned housing in Flintshire, as primary legislation to end the RTB was not due to be introduced until after the next Assembly election in 2016.

Whilst explaining the negative impact on social housing stock across Wales, it was reported that Flintshire had lost 822 Council homes to RTB since 1996 and that the demand for housing need had been identified through the recent Local Housing Market Assessment, as previously reported to the Committee.  Reference was also made to the developments and re-investment in the Council’s housing stock arising from the overwhelming positive response in the housing ballot.  Officers were currently developing a draft application to WG and would need to engage in meaningful consultation with Council tenants to seek their views.  The key stages to the application and consultation process were appended to the report.

Councillor Gareth Roberts spoke in support of the proposal and referred to the significant loss of Council housing stock through the RTB scheme, particularly in rural areas.  He welcomed the opportunity to protect the new build Council homes.  This view was echoed by the Chairman and by Councillor Paul Cunningham who praised the investment in Council homes across the county.

In moving the recommendation, Councillor George Hardcastle indicated his support.

In response to a question from Councillor Ron Davies, the Service Manager for Customer Support advised that around 1,000 applicants were currently on the waiting list for Council houses.

Councillor Nancy Matthews asked how long tenants would need to live at a property to qualify for RTB and felt that the application to WG should seek suspension of RTB in Flintshire for the maximum term of ten years.  The Service Manager agreed to respond separately on the first point and said that the application could be for ten years if supported by the Council.  Councillor Gareth Roberts also supported the Council seeking the maximum term to take into account tenants living in more than one Council property.

Councillor Bernie Attridge pointed out that WG had granted approval to two councils in Wales to suspend RTB for five years, but that he would support the maximum ten year term if this was achievable.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee support an application to Welsh Government to suspend the Right to Buy in Flintshire.