Agenda item

An officer briefing note on this subject had been circulated to Members.

On a motion from Councillor Liz Richardson, seconded by Councillor Michael Evans, it was

RESOLVED that

This Council:

·  Recognises and supports the aspiration of home ownership as a general principle which is the right of hard-working local residents.

·  Notes that, under existing legislation, Housing Association tenants already have a ‘Right to Acquire’ their home at a discount, it is simply that this discount is currently less than that under the Right to Buy policy.

·  Notes the Government proposal to extend the Right to Buy to Housing Association tenants, meaning that that 1.3 million tenants nationally will be entitled to the same rights already enjoyed by Council Housing tenants.

·  Notes that 5,918 households are currently listed on the housing waiting register in B&NES – highlighting the need for more social rented homes to be made available.

·  Notes that the sale receipts from the new Right to Buy policy will be put toward new affordable homes, which along with government funding will allow one for one replacement in the area – thereby increasing the supply of affordable local homes.

·  Notes that when a home is bought under ‘Right to Buy’ the home is not ‘lost’, it is simply that ownership is transferred from the landlord to the occupier.

·  Notes that the extension of Right to Buy is one part of the Government’s wider package of measures to increase the supply of affordable homes and help more people onto the housing ladder, including plans to deliver 200,000 new Starter Homes at a 20% discount to first-time buyers, a new register of brownfield land that will also help fast-track the construction of new homes on previously-used sites, an extension of the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme and the creation of a new Help to Buy ISA.

·  Welcomes the fact that under the Government’s new Right to Buy policy many more families will be able to own their own home who otherwise could not afford to do so.

·  Nonetheless believes greater clarity is still needed from Government over how this policy will be funded, including clarification over the requirement of councils to sell their most expensive housing when it falls vacant, as well as current restrictions over rented homes in rural areas and those secured under s106 agreements.

Council resolves:

·  To write to Government seeking clarification over the funding of the ‘one for one’ replacement scheme, in particular the proposed requirement of Councils to sell high-value housing, and asking that Government consult carefully with local authorities and housing associations before removing any exemptions and restrictions currently in place, such as those relating to homes in rural communities and built under s106 agreements.

[Notes:

1.  Opening the debate, a motion was moved by Councillor Cherry Beath, and seconded by Councillor Tim Ball, as set out with the agenda papers. This motion was replaced by the successful amendment.

2.  The Conservative amendment was carried with 32 Councillors voting in favour, 25 against and 3 abstentions, thus becoming the substantive motion.

3.  The substantive motion was carried with 32 Councillors voting in favour, 25 against and 3 abstentions.

4.  During the debate, various procedural points were raised and addressed.]