Agenda item

The Chairman introduced the report which updated the Board on the implications of the recent Spending Review announcements and asked for a steer on current lobbying work on the Housing and Planning Bill and the Welfare Reform and Work Bill.

Neal Hudson, Executive Director of Research at Savills, addressed members on research the Board had commissioned on the impacts of housing reforms on housing supply and tenure of stock. The research presented a wide range of housing data including homeownership, average value of a first mortgage deposit, and the difference in income between social and private renters. The report on stage 1 work had recently been released and focussed on those excluded from market housing, pay to stay, and starter homes. Stage 2 work would consider housing price growth over the forthcoming five years, and create a model for government policy implications based on construction of new homes and housing market transactions.

In the discussion which followed members made a number of comments including:

·         Local government was being pressured on both private and shared ownership, and strong cross-party lobbying on the Housing and Planning Bill should continue so that local authorities were in a stronger position in future.

·         It was unclear how the government would implement the sale of high value council housing, and ministers should be asked to provide further clarity on this area.

·         The absence of public sector house building had led to the housing gap, and it would be vital to collate as much evidence as possible to influence government policy to close the gap.

·         Local government’s ability to provide and maintain infrastructure should be considered alongside house-building.

·         Current government housing policy, including sale of high value housing, would have unintended negative consequences on local authority business plans and Local Plans.

·         The LGA should publicise that local authorities were not obstructive in granting planning permissions.

·         The shortage of materials and skilled workers had impacted on the housing gap in recent years, and the LGA should continue its lobbing on the skills agenda to influence the importance of this to the housing agenda. The Board was working with the Construction Industry Training Board to further evidence the need to adapt to the increasing demand for construction skills.

·         Local government would have to work closely with housing associations to address the increased need for housing.

·         The Lead Members of the Board would collectively issue a statement on planning consents, specifically on the issue of availability. This would articulate and further publicise the role of local government in housing. Representations on the Housing and Planning Bill by of the Leadership Board to Ministers were continuing and the Board agreed that the notes of these meetings should be circulated to the EEHT Board so that they could continue to be updated on all lobbying work.

Decision

·         The EEHT Board agreed that a joint statement by Lead Members of the Board be released on planning consents, specifically on the issue of availability.

·         Ongoing lobbying work which was highlighted in the report was noted.

Action

·         Joint statement to be drafted and circulated to lead Members for approval.

·         Notes of meetings between members of the Leadership Board and government ministers to be circulated to the EEHT Board for information.