Agenda item

To receive the Affordable Housing Scoping report.

Councillor Oliver entered the meeting at 7.50pm.

The Project Manager – Planning Policy introduced the scoping report on the issue of affordable housing in the District. He said, due to the timing of the report, the issue of affordable housing was intrinsically linked to the ongoing Local Plan process and the proposed development of garden communities. He said the proposed communities would be developed with the principles of the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) in mind, one of which was the provision of affordable housing. He said the aim of this scoping report was to ensure the Scrutiny Committee was content with the Council’s approach to affordable housing and to establish the objectives of an affordable housing policy. A report would be brought back to the Committee at its meeting in June.

Councillor S Barker said the Council’s approach to developing specialist housing (for example, bungalows), as well as the target of 40% affordable homes for developments of fifteen units and above, needed to be reviewed.

She said whilst the 40% target was an admirable aspiration, it was not always realistic due to the nature of S106 agreements and the negotiations that occur between planners and developers.

The Chairman said the Council should know more regarding the effects of house and room sizes on the health of residents. He would also like to know how residents waiting for affordable housing would be prioritised in terms of ‘need.’

Councillor Gerard said the discussion needed to include how the term ‘affordable housing’ was defined. He said the feedback he had received from residents was that affordable housing was not affordable.

Councillor G Barker said the scoping report needed to be more exact and include specifics, for example an Uttlesford minimum home standard or size.

Councillor Davies said base line standards needed to be defined, such as the minimum size of food preparation areas and living spaces.

In response to a question from the Chairman, the Project Manager – Planning Policy said stakeholders who would be working with the Council to deliver affordable housing, such as Housing Associations, would reflect the same standards as those held by the Council.

Councillor Felton said she had a number of issues with ‘affordable housing’, particularly the issue of shared ownership. She said the nature of shared ownership could trap residents in a property, as the market value of these properties did not rise in line with the market rate. She said the solution to the housing crisis was to protect social housing.

Councillor Lemon questioned the affordability of ‘affordable housing’. He said there should be restrictions on private landlords accruing social housing and renting on the private market.

Councillors G Barker, S Barker and Lemon all declared non-prejudicial interests at this point as private landlords.

Councillor Chambers said the District, and the country as a whole, was in dire need of more houses. He said there was no such thing as affordable housing for people on low wages and provisions needed to be put in place to house lower earners. He said the answer to this was council housing.

Councillor Oliver said he agreed with the comments of Councillor Chambers and Councillor Felton; he had residents in his ward who felt trapped by shared ownership as they could not buy 100% of the property, and yet they could not afford to move out. He said the solution to this crisis was social housing.

Councillor Light said the concept of ‘need’ had to be defined and the procedure by which people were assessed also had to be identified.

Councillor G Barker said Members had given the Project Manager – Planning Policy much to think about and the views expressed needed to be put in a more concise manner.

The Chairman said affordable housing was a huge issue for the District and this discussion should be continued outside of the meeting.

The Project Manager – Planning Policy said he would meet with the Chairman, the Cabinet Member for Housing and the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, to consolidate the views of Members. He said presently there was a kaleidoscope of ideas regarding affordable housing but to take this policy forward effectively, a single set of objectives needed to be established.

Councillor Felton, as Chairman of the Housing Board, and Councillor Gerard, a Member of the Housing Board, said they would also like to be involved in this discussion.