A report by the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services sought approval of the Council’s revised Private Sector Housing and Regeneration Assistance Policy following consultation. It was noted that any revisions approved would be implemented with immediate effect.

It was proposed to amend the eligibility criteria for housing to take into account annual income rather than just salary.  Some degree of flexibility around the income thresholds was to be introduced to facilitate property sales where there was no interest from applicants meeting the criteria.

The report also sought to amend the Council’s preferred builders protocol used in conjunction with the renovation assistance to allow applicants to seek contractors outside the preferred builders’ protocol list, should there be insufficient registered contractors to provide a quotation.

Members were also advised that, in conjunction with the Council’s Housing Market Renewal partners, the contract with the Council’s current loan administrator, ART Homes Ltd., had been extended for a further 12 months to 31 March 2011

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the revised Private Sector Housing and Regeneration Assistance Policy, as set out in the report, be agreed and implemented with immediate effect.

(2)  the Preferred Builders Protocol to allow applicants to seek quotations from suitable contractors not registered with the Protocol only when insufficient registered contractors are available to provide a quotation be amended subject to the conditions mentioned in paragraph 5.2 of the report and it be subject to annual review by the cabinet;

(3)  the 12 month extension until 31^st March 2011, to the ART Homes Ltd loan administration contract, in conjunction with our HMRI Partners, be noted: and

(4)  The Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Corporate Services be requested to provide a report for consideration at a future meeting of the cabinet outlining how an environmental responsibility policy and guidelines can be incorporated into the Private Sector Housing and Regeneration Policy as a future specific condition of all grant assistance where relevant