Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

The Cabinet Member for Housing introduced the report which sought approval to progress to the next key stages of the Council’s Strategic Housing and Regeneration Programme (SHARP) and set out the proposals to develop the former Custom House School site in Connah’s Quay.  She was pleased to inform Members that of the 11 local authorities who had voted to retain its housing stock, Flintshire was the first authority to start to build new Council homes.

            Properties and land associated with each property would be designed to comply with Secured by Design guidelines and the Council’s “Flintshire House Standard”.  The standard would inform the design and specification of all the new housing delivered through the SHARP and form a benchmark to ensure consistent, good quality of internal layout, fixtures and fittings, high standards of energy efficiency and external appearance in keeping with local circumstance, low maintenance product specifications, adequate parking and a public realm designed to promote cohesive and inclusive communities.

            The Chief Officer (Community and Enterprise) explained that Standard Development Scheme assumptions had been developed which made allowances for voids; maintenance costs and rental income levels and would be used to assess all potential new build development schemes to determine scheme feasibility and viability with a minimum requirement for all Cabinet approved schemes to pay back the scheme costs within 50 years.

            Discussions were taking place with Welsh Government (WG) to seek receipt of the Social Housing Grant which was a grant that was available to Housing Associations.

            Councillor Butler welcomed the scheme which would employ Social Enterprises as part of the supply chain who would provide services such as cleaning, printing, signage and recruitment services.

            Councillor Shotton commented on the plans to develop a Training Academy with Coleg Cambria, Contractor partners and other key stakeholders to ensure that sustainable and meaningful apprenticeship opportunities were created for young people to not only work on the SHARP, but also other major Council construction programmes.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the development of 12 new Council homes on Custom House School site, Connah’s Quay, be approved, at a total cost of £1,548,936; and

(b)       That the standard scheme development assumptions as identified in the report be approved.