Decision details

To provide feedback on the Housing Commission consultation exercise

The leader of the council reported that the cabinet would give a commitment to build ten thousand more new homes in the next 25 years.  This was in addition to the commitment already given to build one thousand new council homes.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the outcomes of the community engagement on the report of the Independent Housing Commission be noted, in particular the clear weight of opinion that:

·  Council housing should be for people for whom the private rented sector is unaffordable, who are in low paid work, beyond retirement age or unable to work (e.g. through illness or disability) and who have a local connection with the borough

·  The council should invest in its housing stock to provide good quality homes for all its tenants

·  The council should provide as many homes at genuinely affordable rents as possible and should look creatively at different options for financing and managing the delivery of new council homes

·  The council’s housing stock should be better managed and there is a significant appetite among council tenants and homeowners for more resident involvement in housing management, more tenant management initiatives and for exploring partnership working with other social housing providers, where this makes sense for a particular estate or locality.

2.  Cabinet notes the very high level of participation of tenants, homeowners and other residents in the community conversations about the future of housing and thanks them all for their thoughtful and constructive contributions.

3.  That the specific input of the Futures Steering Board of council tenant and homeowner representatives be noted and thanks them for their work.

4.  That the specific view expressed by Homeowners’ Council that there is now greater professionalism and focus to the council's work with homeowners but a need to continue to address the concerns of leaseholders and homeowners be noted.

5.  That the outcomes of the wider stakeholder engagement with other local authorities, housing associations and representatives of regional and national government commissioned from The Smith Institute be noted.

6.  That the detailed evaluation of the Independent Housing Commission’s findings commissioned from Savills, which comprises a high level financial and housing stock options appraisal, informed by the most recent stock condition survey, the council’s existing housing investment programme and relevant national policy developments (e.g. the Right to Buy scheme) be noted.

7.  That the council’s commitment to council housing as a community asset for the long term benefit of Southwark residents and to championing the mixed and diverse communities which make Southwark such a successful and liveable borough be restated.

8.  That any wholesale or large-scale transfer of its housing stock to another provider be ruled out.

9.  That amendments proposed to the council’s lettings policy, the report of which appears elsewhere on the agenda, including the proposal to extend the local residency qualification for joining the housing register from 6 months to 2 years be noted.

10.  That the strategic director of housing and community services

·  Bring back proposals to September cabinet on how to increase resident involvement in managing council housing and, in particular, how to encourage more tenant management organisations;

·  Bring back an action plan to September cabinet for the continued improvement of leasehold management services;

·  In consultation with the strategic director of finance and corporate services, undertake further detailed assessment of the financial performance of the council’s housing assets alongside an assessment of the extent to which they meet the council’s overall social housing objectives and develop long term plans for delivering the cabinet’s commitment to build ten thousand more council homes in the future.

11.  That in recognising the important role that other social housing providers and the private sector have in meeting the totality of housing needs in the borough, the director of corporate strategy be instructed to review the council’s housing strategy across all tenures and sectors, having regard to the detailed assessment of the council’s own stock referred to in 6 above.