Issue - meetings

Report of the Director for Strategy and Commissioning.

Cllr John Thomson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Communities and Housing presented a report which sought Committee approval to use 0.15 hectares/0.38 acres of Council owned land in Hilmarton to provide some much needed new housing in Hilmarton in partnership with Guinness Hermitage.

A rural needs survey undertaken in April 2012 identified a housing need for four new affordable homes with a mix of 2 and 3 bed properties for rent and shared ownership. Substantial work with the Parish Council to identify suitable sites had concluded the land at Hilmarton to be the most suitable and preferred site.

The Committee noted that notice needed to be given to the tenant farmer as soon as possible given the issue around the single farm payment.

Resolved:

1.               To delegate authority to the Service Director Business Services after consultation with Cllr Toby Sturgis, Cabinet Member for Waste, Property, Environment and Development Control Services to dispose of land at Hilmarton to Guinness Hermitage Housing Association to provide 5 new affordable homes, including carrying out any required procurement or legal activities.

2.               In the absence of a new housing allocations policy, preference will be give to households with a local connection to the parish of Hilmartin when allocating the housing units to address the identified housing need.