Agenda item

(NOTE: Councillor K. Lloyd having earlier declared an interest in this item participated in the debate but did not vote thereon in accordance with the conditions of his dispensation granted by the Council’s Standards Committee)

The Committee received for consideration the Carmarthenshire Homes Standards Plus (CHS+) Business Plan 2020-23 the purpose of which was threefold. Firstly, it explained the vision and detail of the CHS+ over the next three years and what it meant for tenants. Secondly, it confirmed the financial profile, based on current assumptions for delivery of the CHS+ over the next three years and, thirdly, produced a business plan for the annual application to the Welsh Government for Major Repairs Allowance (MRA) for 2020/21 equating to £6.1m.

The Committee noted the Plan also highlighted the importance of the Council supporting its tenants and residents in everything it did with the following three key themes having been identified in terms of future investment proposals:-

-        Theme 1 – Supporting Tenants and Residents;

-        Theme 2 – Investing in our Homes’ and the Environment – including development of a Carmarthenshire Decarbonisation Homes Model

-        Theme 3 - Providing more homes

The Following questions/issues were raised on the report:

·       Reference was made to the Council’s proposals to spend nearly £52m over the next three years in building more homes linking in with regeneration and focussing on proposed developments in the Tyisha Ward, the Wellness Village, Town Centre and key rural towns. Having regard to the Council’s recent launch of its ‘Ten Towns’ Initiative, clarification was sought on how the new homes build programme would link in with that initiative.

The Head of Homes and Safer Communities confirmed future house building programmes would align with that initiative. The first building phase, as referenced above, had been developed on the basis of land availability.

·       Reference was made to the development of Carmarthenshire’s decarbonisation model and clarification sought on what influence the Council had on social and private landlords to decarbonise their properties.

The Head of Homes advised that in relation to Social Landlords that could be addressed by a number of means including the Welsh Government by way of conditioning its Major Repairs Allowance and by the Council in the allocation of the Social Housing Grant. The position for encouraging private landlords to undertake such works would be more difficult. However the authority may be in a position to offer some incentives via its social letting policy etc. The Welsh Government could also legislate requiring private landlords to undertake decarbonisation works.

·       A question was raised on the Council’s Radon Testing Programme and the Head of Property confirmed that whilst non statutory, it was being undertaken in terms of best practice as a social landlord and on health and safety for its tenants. He advised that private house owners would be directed to appropriate bodies to advise on testing their properties.

·       Reference was made to the standard of build for new homes and the Committee was advised that was governed by Building Regulations Legislation. Whilst that legislation set a minimum standard in terms of safety requirements, house builders could exceed those standards.

The Head of Homes and Safer Communities advised that in relation to the Council’s new build programme, all homes would be constructed to meet Design Quality Requirements and would be similar in size to properties built in the 1960’s. Work was also being undertaking on developing a Carmarthenshire Standard for new Homes which would be reported to Council for adoption in due course.

The Head of Property confirmed monitoring the quality of the council’s build programme is undertaken by property staff and performance arrangements within the contractor framework would be used to monitor appointed contractors. The Council’s standards for new build were higher than those set by the Welsh Government and it was seeking to design and construct homes for the long term ensuring their longevity.

·       With regard to the proposal within the Plan to plant a minimum of 1,000 trees to offset the carbon footprint of building 1,000 new homes the Investment and Income Manager advised those may not necessarily be planted in Carmarthenshire, as the Council could offset that provision by commissioning tree planting in other areas/countries. A full site appraisal would however be undertaken to inform the best method of tree planting, be that on site or elsewhere.

RESOLVED THAT IT BE RECOMMENDED TO THE EXECUTIVE BOARD/COUNCIL TO:-