Issue - meetings

To consider the report on Section 106 Affordable Housing Funds.

To approve that the Section 106 Affordable Housing contributions are utilised within the HRA development programme.

Councillor Coote presented the report on the Section 106 Housing Funds.

Councillor Freeman said that the challenge was the lack of Council owned land that houses could be built on. He recommended the purchase of land through compulsory purchase where necessary and recommended that Members sought out sites as they travel round the district.

Councillor Evans confirmed that a report on Essex County Council owned land is anticipated and may identify suitable land for development.

Councillor Caton noted that the call for sites had identified sites that the County Council had put forward, alongside some redundant depot land which could be considered for internal land transfer.

Councillor Lees that there were three parties interested in the land in question and that these would be democratically considered and voted upon.

Councillor Coote agreed with Councillor Freeman and confirmed that a white paper would be coming forward imminently about the compulsory purchase of land. He confirmed that it would be helpful if Members could identify sites of any size with potential.

Councillor Coote proposed approval of the report. This was seconded by Councillor Hargreaves.

RESOLVED: That the Section 106 Affordable Housing contributions are utilised within the HRA development programme.