Issue - meetings

Report from the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health.

Recommendations:

1.    That Cabinet approve the Council-owned sites listed in Appendix 2 being brought forward to deliver new homes, with developments which will deliver more than ten homes being subject to further Cabinet approvals.

2.    That Cabinet approve  ...  view the full agenda text for item 27

Consideration was given to the report which set out the progress made against the Council’s Housing Development Programme and proposed new projects for 2022/23. Appendix 2 provided a list of sites proposed for development and exempt Appendix 3 provided a list of potential strategic acquisition opportunities. Work was underway to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27

Cabinet Portfolio: Housing

Strategic Directorate: Adult Care, Housing and Public Health

The Chair noted that Ian Spicer, Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health and Paul Walsh, Interim Assistant Director Housing and Jane Davies, Head of Strategic Housing and Development in attendance.

This report details progress made against the Council’s Housing Development Programme and proposed new projects for 2022/23.  There are a number of schemes that have previously been presented to Cabinet and renewed approvals are being sought for sites in East Herringthorpe, Thrybergh, Wingfield, Eastwood, Kiveton Park, Thurcroft, and West Melton amongst others not listed.  The two new sites proposed for development are Carver Close, Harthill and Warden Street in Canklow.

The Head of Strategic Housing and Development explained that the annual report set out the performance to date against the Council’s ambitious housing development programme along with seeking further approvals to continue to deliver Council homes.  The report gives an overview of progress against previously approved schemes.  The report set out the number of homes the Council had already delivered or committed to delivering.  Since January 2018 to end of June 2022 the Council had built or committed to build 608 homes, comprising of 350 homes for council rent,133 for council shared ownership, 125 homes for sale to allow cross subsidisation of receipts to allow further development of council homes.

The report also noted the number of homes the Council had enabled to be built.  Not the council’s own delivery but through its strategic enabling role the Council made significant contribution to hitting Rotherham’s overall housing requirements.  Since 2018 the Council had enabled more than 500 homes to be delivered.  

A survey of customers of new council homes had been introduced to learn from their experiences, repeat what’s working well, consider how developments may need to be changed to meet needs, along with working with colleagues in Public Health to consider ways the longer-term outcomes for communities from the homes being delivered could be evaluated.

The report noted the various risks associated with new housing development, specifically, rapidly increasing costs, which makes it challenging to deliver.  The report also proposed some new schemes. 

The following was raised/responded to during discussions:

·       Further information on the number of bungalows built would be provided outside of the meeting.

·       The majority of the council homes were for council rent with a smaller number becoming shared ownership homes.

·       A wide range of sites were considered across the borough with consideration being given to the demographics of the ward.  Work was also undertaken with developers to influence the nature of the homes being provided.

·       It was clarified that detailed assessments and business cases were carried out for each site considered.

·       Social value information was captured.

·       The programme was diverse encompassing both smaller and larger sites.

·       It was understood that further engagement with communities and ward members could be undertaken with the Neighbourhoods team to increase the current engagement levels.

·       Members providing information on potential sites was welcomed.

·       The management of waste from the sites was controlled through the contract and information regarding the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64