Issue - meetings

Recommendations

       i.         The Executive is asked to ratify the previous options appraisal and business case of the Joint Venture and approve the principle of creating a Joint Venture limited liability partnership between the Council and Lovell and for the purposes of constructing and accelerating the delivery of good quality and environmentally sustainable homes, with a focus on accelerating the provision of affordable housing and generating social Value.

     ii.         To approve entering into preferred bidder stage with Lovell to form a Housing Delivery Vehicle noting that the formal agreement to set up the Joint Venture will be subject to a further Executive approval.

    iii.         To approve to consult on/publish notice regarding the disposal of open space land pursuant to s.123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972 and as set out in paragraph 6.1

Considered a report of the Corporate Director of Community Development which sought in principle approval to enter into a Limited Liability Partnership with Lovell Partnerships Limited (Lovell) to form a Housing Delivery Vehicle subject to satisfactory outcome of the preferred bidder stage to contribute to housing delivery growth and which will form the subject of a further Executive report.

The Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing, Councillor Simon Myers introduced the report, commending the proposed use of a Joint Venture Limited Liability Partnership with Lovell to help deliver the council’s ambitions for affordable, good quality homes which would generate social value.  Councillor Myers noted that the proposals in the report developed initial work undertaken by the former Scarborough Borough Council, whilst offering wider, longer term benefits based on a much larger geography and local authority.  The Housing Delivery Vehicle was one of a raft of mechanisms which could be used to help meet the council’s housing targets.  It was not without risk, and would require careful monitoring, but offered several key benefits including the council retaining control of the housing to be developed and a 50/50 profit share with the developer.

Local division Councillors Derek Bastiman and Liz Colling then addressed the meeting.  Councillor Bastiman expressed concern that some potential development sites may struggle to attract sufficient value to be viable, requested that the Joint Venture work with the Construction Skills Village in Eastfield in its upskilling and training agenda, and queried if through the Housing Delivery Vehicle there could be provision for the council to buy back homes which had been sold off through Right to Buy.  In reply, Councillor Bastiman’s suggestion of involving the local Construction Skills Village was welcomed in principle provided educational requirements could be met through the proposed apprenticeships.  In respect of land values, decisions on individual sites would come at a later stage based on detailed land appraisals.  In respect of the rules on Right to Buy for Section 106 and HRA properties, this complex area including the council’s right to buy back was governed by national legislation with no local discretion.  In response to Councillor Colling’s query about how much local procurement and local supply chains would feature in the Housing Delivery Vehicle, she was advised that these areas would be monitored through appropriate key performance indicators submitted to the overview and scrutiny committee.

Resolved (unanimously) that the Executive

       i.         ratify the previous options appraisal and business case of the Joint Venture and approve the principle of creating a Joint Venture limited liability partnership between the Council and Lovell and for the purposes of constructing and accelerating the delivery of good quality and environmentally sustainable homes, with a focus on accelerating the provision of affordable housing and generating social Value.

     ii.         approve entering into preferred bidder stage with Lovell to form a Housing Delivery Vehicle noting that the formal agreement to set up the Joint Venture will be subject to a further Executive approval.

    iii.         approve to consult on/publish notice regarding the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 700