*HC 91/22
Members considered a report which sought approval for a number
of measures in support of action being taken by the Council to help
address the Housing Crisis.
In
the ensuing debate, the following points were raised:
(a)
The Committee was informed that, since the agenda
had been published, Devon County Council had now confirmed its
agreement to the funding proposals contained within the published
report;
(b)
Members emphasised the importance of taking full
advantage of the funding allocations;
(c)
With regard to finding five suitable properties,
officers informed that the preference would be to purchase newer
build dwellings and the importance of community integration was
fully recognised;
(d)
In response to concerns being raised over the
current property disposal strategy of Livewest in the West Devon Borough area, officers
advised that they shared these concerns and were intending to raise
this point at their next meeting with Livewest representatives;
(e)
By way of an update to the Springhill project,
officers informed that the Business Case would be presented to
Members at a future meeting and, as part of the pre-application
process, the views of local Ward Members regarding the wish for
three flats, had been taken into account.
It
was then:
RESOLVED
1. That the
use of up to £1.4m from the Government’s Local
Authority Housing Fund and Homes for Ukraine funding allocations be
approved for the purchase of up to 5 properties;
2. That the Head
of Assets, in consultation with the Head of Housing and Section 151
Officer, be authorised to identify within the available funding, up
to 5 suitable properties and to take the necessary steps for the
Council to purchase those properties;
3. That subject
to positive pre-planning application discussions, the Head of
Assets be authorised to prepare and submit a full planning
application for the conversion and use of 20 Plymouth Road,
Tavistock as temporary accommodation with at-risk costs of up to
£30,000 being financed from the Homeless Prevention winter
pressure grant; and
4. That the
progress on Springhill, Tavistock and Wonnacotts Road, Okehampton be noted.