Affordable Housing Supply in North Devon and Local Housing Companies
Presentation by Attair. A copy of Attair’s report and summary (attached).
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Service Lead Affordable Housing introduced Matt Caroll, Director and David Howson, Associate Director of Altair who had been commissioned, through the Local Government Association’s Housing Advisers Programme, to support the Council in understanding and appraising North Devon’s current affordable housing environment and to develop possible options for the Council to become a stock-owning local authority.
The Committee received a presentation by Matt Caroll, Director and David Howson, Associate Director of Altair regarding their findings.
In response to questions, David Howson advised that a housing company board could consist of four or five people for a small retained programme made up of both officers and Members of the Council. The Council could become a shareholder and such an agreement would be put in place.
In response to questions, the Head of Resources advised that if we did look to go down the company route it would be separate to the Council and therefore a Director appointed would be responsible to the company. It could operate in a similar manner to North Devon+ whereby the Chief Executive of the Council was also a Director of North Devon+. If the Council supported the setting up of a Housing Company, then the Council could consider borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board.