Issue - meetings

That the Committee supports the overall approach in the delivery of new social and affordable housing in Flintshire, including:

·         Flintshire’s Social Housing Grant (SHG) Programme for the delivery of 277 new social and affordable new homes during the period 2015/16 to 2018/19

·         Proposals for the projected delivery of 132 new homes through Section 106 Planning Agreements agreed to date for the period 2015/16 to 2017/18

·         Supports the development of policy initiatives to increase supply of local affordable housing provision

The Housing Programmes Manager introduced a report to provide an update on the provision of new social and affordable housing schemes in Flintshire.  He provided background information and referred to the key considerations in the report around policy framework including the Flintshire Unitary Development Plan (FUDP), Local Housing Market Assessment, Single Access Route  to Housing (SARTH) and Flintshire Affordable Housing Register.  He also reported on the primary mechanisms for delivering new social and affordable housing in Flintshire including the Council’s Strategic Housing and Regeneration Programme (SHARP), Social Housing Grant (SHG) Programme and affordable housing secured through Section 106 Planning Agreements with private developers.  The Housing Programmes Manager commented on future policy development and initiatives to maximise the number of affordable units secured by the Council for Flintshire residents.

The Chairman thanked the Housing Programmes Manager for a detailed and informative report and invited Members to raise questions. 

Councillor Paul Shotton commented on the need for affordable home ownership and referred to Grwp Cynefin and  sought further information around the equity share scheme.  The Housing Programmes Manager explained that the scheme helps first time buyers into home ownership.  The subsidy is not a loan that needs to be repaid and there is no rent payable.  The Council owns an equity share in the property and when the purchaser decides to sell it the  Council gets back its equity share and recycles it to the next household eligible on the register to buy a home. 

Councillor Alison Halford asked how many ‘hits’ did the Council get on its website with regard to social and affordable housing.  The Housing Programmes Manager explained that he would provide this information to Councillor Halford following the meeting.

Referring to Appendix 1 of the report Councillor Ron Davies advised that Clarence Street and Nelson Street were located in Shotton not Connah’s Quay.  The Housing Programmes Manager agreed to amend this.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee supports the overall approach in the delivery of new social and affordable housing in Flintshire, including:

·         Flintshire’s Social Housing Grant (SHG) Programme for the delivery of 277 new social and affordable new homes during the period 2015/16 to 2018/19

·         Proposals for the projected delivery of 132 new homes through Section 106 Planning Agreements agreed to date for the period 2015/16 to 2017/18

·         Supports the development of policy initiatives to increase supply of local affordable housing provision