Agenda item

E.04/18          

Members were presented with a report that requested the release and allocation of Section 106 funds over £30,000 for affordable housing projects with Transition Homes Community Land Trust (CLT).

The Lead Member for Customer First introduced the report and reminded the meeting on a number of occasions that the Council’s top Corporate Priority was affordable housing.

In the ensuing debate, reference was made to:-

(a)    a motion to defer the recommendation.  A motion to defer the recommendation to the next Executive meeting on 19 July 2018 was PROPOSED and SECONDED.  In support of the motion to defer, the proposer and seconder made the following points:

-        It was felt that a five week delay would not unduly affect the project and would enable for consultation to be undertaken in the meantime with Totnes Town Council and East Allington Parish Council;

-       In light of concerns over the seemingly high build costs associated with the project, a deferral would also enable for more information and clarification to be sought in this respect.

In contrast, other Members did not support the motion and made the following points:

-       The proposals presented an opportunity to progress a good quality affordable housing scheme (70% of which affordable housing) that had the support of the local Members from both Totnes and Dartington;

-       With regard to the Fallapit House, East Allington development monies, these had been available since 2010 and no appropriate schemes had come forward yet from either the Parish Council or the local Ward Member.  As a consequence, if these went unspent there was a risk that these could ultimately be lost by the Council.

When put to the vote, the motion was (by virtue of the Chairman’s Casting Vote) declared LOST.

(b)    the principle of Section 106 deposits being spent elsewhere in the South Hams.  It was acknowledged that the process for spending Section 106 Deposits for Affordable Housing was last reviewed by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel at its meeting on 6 July 2017 (Minute O&S.16/17 refers).  That being said, some Members were uncomfortable that the process now enabled for monies that had been received for a development in one town/parish to be spent elsewhere in the district.  However, other Members were content with the current process and stressed the importance of the wider membership taking the view that such monies were required to facilitate affordable housing provision across the whole of the South Hams.

Such was the extent and length of the debate on this point, that the following motion was PROPOSED and SECONDED:

‘That the Overview and Scrutiny Panel be asked to undertake a review into the process for Spending Section 106 Deposits for Affordable Housing.’

When put to the vote, this motion was declared CARRIED.

(c)  fuel poverty.  A Member highlighted the associated difficulties experienced by low income families regarding fuel poverty and the cost of heating a home.  As a consequence, it was noted that one of the reasons for the seemingly high build costs for this development were the measures being put in place to help to prevent fuel poverty;

(d)    the proposed use of the Fallapit House, East Allington monies.  As a way forward and, in light of the concerns expressed over the proposal to use these monies, an alternative proposal was PROPOSED and SECONDED as follows:

‘£87,124.50 – from the Riverside, Totnes development to spend on an affordable housing scheme at Clay Park, Dartington with Transition Homes Community Land Trust.’

When put to the vote, this alternative proposal was considered to be more appropriate and was declared CARRIED.

(e)    shared learning opportunities.  The local Ward Member advised that the CLT was fully prepared and committed to sharing its knowledge and experiences with other parties who were considering setting up a CLT.

It was then:

RESOLVED

1.      That the release or allocation of s106 funds for Affordable Housing projects as set out below be approved:

(a)    £87,124.50 – from the Riverside, Totnes development to spend on an affordable housing scheme at Clay Park, Dartington with Transition Homes CLT;

(b)    £11,704.00 from Elwell House, Totnes to spend on an affordable housing scheme at Clay Park, Dartington with Transition Homes CLT; and

(c)    £9,025.00 – from the Warlands Garage, Totnes to spend on an affordable housing scheme at Clay Park, Dartington with Transition Homes CLT; and

2.      That the Overview and Scrutiny Panel be asked to undertake a review into the process for Spending Section 106 Deposits for Affordable Housing.