On Thursday 12 May 2015, the Housing and Planning Act received Royal Assent.  The Housing and Planning Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 13 October 2015 by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

The key changes in the new Housing and Planning Act 2016 that would impact the Council’s housing department were:

·         The requirement to Sell our higher value vacant properties to fund the voluntary Right to Buy for Housing Association tenants.

·         The implementation of the “Pay-to-Stay” policy which required the Council to increase the rent to tenants earning higher incomes.

·         Secured tenancies, the introduction of a new fixed 10 year tenancy agreement. 

The Council needed to plan to make financial provision for the changes and adjustments had to be made in service delivery. 

The Interim Head of Housing was to report back to a future Committee when more information on this Act had been publicised. 

Cllr Hossack MOVED and Cllr Poppy SECONDED the recommendation set out in the report be approved that:

1.    Members of the Committee were requested to note the contents of the report. 

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY.