Issue - meetings

[To approve the revised Affordable Rents Policy for all New Build Wolverhampton Council Housing]

1.      That Social Rents are applied to new build council properties only when allocated to a returning tenant(s) who are displaced as a result of an approved council led regeneration programme. This is only applicable for new build properties built without using grant funding.

2.      That Social Rent is charged on properties purchased through the Market to Affordable Housing Conversion Programme only when the property is allocated to an existing tenant(s) who is required to temporarily decant to assist in the progression of the approved council led regeneration programme.

3.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Director of City Housing and Environment, to authorise future amendments to the City’s Affordable Rents Policy for new build council Housing.

The recommendations contained in the report, Revised Affordable Rents Policy for all New Build Wolverhampton Council Housing, were moved by Councillor Ian Brookfield and seconded by Councillor Stephen Simkins.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal reported on the salient points of the report on a proposal to amend the Council's current Affordable Rents Policy in order to protect the Social Rents of existing secure council tenants where they are being displaced as a result of council regeneration schemes.  The report also proposed that for those council tenants who have a wish to return to new build properties within the regeneration area and have been temporarily decanted to a property acquired through the Market to Affordable Housing Conversion programme, that a Social Rent is charged for the duration of the decant period.

Resolved:

1.    That Social Rents are applied to new build council properties only when allocated to a returning tenant(s) who are displaced as a result of an approved council led regeneration programme. This is only applicable for new build properties built without using grant funding.

2.    That Social Rent is charged on properties purchased through the Market to Affordable Housing Conversion Programme only when the property is allocated to an existing tenant(s) who is required to temporarily decant to assist in the progression of the approved council led regeneration programme.

3.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing, in consultation with the Director of City Housing and Environment, to authorise future amendments to the City’s Affordable Rents Policy for new build council housing.