Enclosed is the report of Strategic Director Growth and Development.

1.         To note the increase in the forecast Residential Growth delivery target for new homes in Manchester from April 2015 to March 2025 of an additional 7,000 homes to 32,000 homes.

2.         To note the proposed increase in the delivery target between April 2015 and March 2025 from 5,000 Affordable Homes to a minimum of 6,400 Affordable Homes.

3.         To note the limited capacity of the Council’s Housing Revenue Account and the Council’s Housing Affordability Fund to support new additional Affordable Homes in the city and that significant new Affordable Home delivery in the city is dependent on robust partnership relationships with Registered Providers, which currently have the financial and delivery capacity to deliver those homes.

4.         To delegate authority to the Strategic Director - Growth and Development, and the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Executive Members for Finance and Resources and Housing and Regeneration to negotiate and formalise a strategic partnership with Homes England

5.         To delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, Strategic Director - Growth and Development and Head of Development in consultation with the local ward councillors, the Leader, the Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration, Executive Member for Finance and HR, and the Executive Member responsible for Corporate Property, to agree the disposal of sites in Council ownership for the provision of affordable homes as set out in the report.

6.         To delegate authority to the Strategic Director - Growth and Development and the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Executive Members for Finance and Resources and Housing and Regeneration, to establish partnership arrangements with Registered Providers together with their partners/consortium for defined areas in the North, Central, South and Wythenshawe areas of the City.

7.         To note progress against the Policy Ideas presented to Executive in the December paper by the Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration

8.         To delegate authority to the City Solicitor to enter into and complete all documents and agreements necessary to give effect to the recommendations in the report.

9.         To authorise the Head of Housing to explore with local Registered Providers (RPs) the draft principles on reacquiring former right-to-buy homes as set out in Annex 1 of the report, and to report to a future meeting.

A report from the Strategic Director, Growth and Development provided an update on the further consideration of the policy ideas contained in the report “Manchester's Affordable Housing Strategy - Proposed new affordable housing policies for the Council” that had been considered in December 2018 (Minute Exe/18/109). The report also examined the predicted demand for and supply of affordable homes in the City and how the Council and its partners would seek to achieve the target of creating at least 6,400 affordable homes between April 2015 to March 2025.

The report explained that over the ten-year period of April 2015 to March 2025 the Council was now forecasting that about 32,000 homes would be completed in Manchester. The Local Plan 2012 - 2027 set the target for affordable housing as 20% of all completions, resulting in 6,400 affordable homes in that same period. Achieving that number of homes would require significant investment by Homes England and Registered Providers. Only a comparatively limited amount of investment could be funded from the Council’s Housing Revenue Account and General Fund. It was proposed and supported that officers therefore seek to develop strategic partnerships with Homes England and with Registered Providers.

The report also examined the Council’s ability to contribute development land that could be used for affordable homes. It was evident that the Council’s land holdings had the potential to provide sites for much of the target number of homes. Officers were supported in seeking to dispose of land to partner providers to facilitate the creation of new affordable homes.

Support was also given to further investigation of the mechanism whereby former right-to-buy properties could be re-acquired using public funds and made available again as affordable homes.

It was noted that at a recent meeting the Economy Scrutiny Committee had also considered the report and had endorsed its recommendations, and added that for the disposal of sites in Council ownership that the officers should also consult the local ward councillors (Minute ESC/19/38). The committee’s recommendation was accepted. It was also agreed that other Executive Members should be added as consultees for such disposals.

Decisions

1.         To note the increase in the forecast Residential Growth delivery target for new homes in Manchester from April 2015 to March 2025 of an additional 7,000 homes to 32,000 homes.

2.         To note the proposed increase in the delivery target between April 2015 and March 2025 from 5,000 Affordable Homes to a minimum of 6,400 Affordable Homes.

3.         To note the limited capacity of the Council’s Housing Revenue Account and the Council’s Housing Affordability Fund to support new additional Affordable Homes in the city and that significant new Affordable Home delivery in the city is dependent on robust partnership relationships with Registered Providers, which currently have the financial and delivery capacity to deliver those homes.

4.         To delegate authority to the Strategic Director - Growth and Development, and the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Executive Members for Finance and Resources and Housing and Regeneration to negotiate and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73