Issue - meetings

Selection of Registered Social Landlords to be the Council’s preferred partners for the development of affordable housing.

(Report attached)

RECOMMENDED that

1)        the recommendation of the Member Officer Selection Panel held on 30 June 2009 be adopted and that the following organisations be duly appointed as Preferred RSL Development Partners of the Authority:

a)                 Accord Housing Association/Redditch Co-Operative Homes;

b)                 Festival Housing Group;

c)                 West Mercia Housing Association/Bromsgrove District Housing Trust;

d)                 Rooftop Housing Group;

e)                 Sanctuary Housing Association.

2)                 Officers and Preferred RSL Partners produce a preferred partnership agreement outlining the terms of reference of the Partnership.

(Prior to consideration of this item, and in accordance with the requirements of Section 81 of the Local Government Act 2000, Councillor Hartnett declared a personal and prejudicial interest in view of him being a Board Member of Registered Social Landlord (Redditch Co-op Homes) and left the meeting.)

Members received a report which sought approval of five Registered Social Landlords who had been interviewed by the Member and Officer Selection Panel on 30^th June 2009, to be appointed as ‘preferred partner ‘Registered Social Landlords.

Officers reported that these ‘preferred partner’ Registered Social Landlords would work in partnership with the Council to develop affordable housing for rent and low cost ownership on Council owned and Section 106 or windfall development sites.

Members were informed that by selecting ‘preferred partner’ Registered Social Landlords the Council would be able to achieve the following strategic objectives:

a)                 increased affordable housing provision within the Borough;

b)                 increased supply of Homes and Community Agency grant funding to support development;

c)                  assist person registered as being in housing need; and

d)                 development of opportunities for joint working in order to address the supply of affordable housing, assessment of housing need and formulation of Borough-wide housing policies, plans and solutions to problems.

RECOMMENDED that

1)        the recommendation of the Member Officer Selection Panel held on 30 June 2009 be adopted and that the following organisations be duly appointed as Preferred RSL Development Partners of the Authority:

a)                 Accord Housing Association/Redditch Co-Operative Homes;

b)                 Festival Housing Group;

c)                 West Mercia Housing Association/Bromsgrove District Housing Trust;

d)                 Rooftop Housing Group;

e)                 Sanctuary Housing Association.

2)                 Officers and Preferred RSL Partners produce a preferred partnership agreement outlining the terms of reference of the Partnership.

(Prior to consideration of this item, and in accordance with the requirements of Section 81 of the Local Government Act 2000, Councillor Hartnett declared a personal and prejudicial interest in view of him being a Board Member of Registered Social Landlord (Redditch Co-op Homes) and left the meeting.)