Agenda item

Council was informed that the Executive Board, at its meeting held on the 24^th February 2020 (Minute 9 refers) had considered the Carmarthenshire Homes Standard Plus (CHS+) Business Plan 2020-2023, the purpose of which was to:-

·        Explain the vision and detail of maintaining and improving the Carmarthenshire Homes Standard Plus over the next three years, and what it means for tenants;

·        Set out the intention to develop a new Carmarthenshire standard by continuing to move towards carbon neutral homes, both existing and new, ensuring new supply chain, jobs and training opportunities are delivered;

·        Confirm the financial profile, based on current assumptions, for the delivery of the CHS+ over the next three years;

·        Produce a business plan for the annual application to Welsh Government for Major Repairs Allowance (MRA) for 2020/21, equating to £6.1m.

The Executive Board Member for Housing commented that the Council would be working with partners to develop a new Carmarthenshire standard by continuing to move towards carbon neutral homes, both existing and new.  With the assistance of Cardiff University, the Authority had been working on the retrofitting of a range of low carbon technologies including renewable energy supplies, energy storage and energy demand reduction technologies. She stated that nearly £49m had been set aside to maintain the CHS+ for existing tenants over the next 3 years to enable tenants to benefit from homes that were carbon friendly and cheaper to run.

The Executive Board Member for Housing confirmed that the Authority was on the verge of achieving its promise of delivering 1,000 more affordable homes by 2021 as a result of buying houses on the market, bringing empty houses back in to use and by building new homes.  She added that whilst much had been achieved, it was recognised that there was still more to be done but the Authority was ready to face the challenges. The published plan detailed the Authority’s intention to develop a new build programme for Cartrefi Croeso to enable the maximisation of housing especially in rural areas.  Work to build new Council homes at Dylan had already started and with nearly £52m available to spend over the next three years on building more Council homes this would align with the wider housing investment programme. This would enable the Authority to focus on the proposed development in the Tyisha ward, the Wellness Village, Town Centres and rural towns.

The Executive Board Member for Housing advised that the Authority was aware that the introduction of Universal Credit had presented a challenge for tenants in managing their monthly budgets, but the action plan implemented by the Authority had reduced the impact as much as possible for them. In conclusion she expressed the view that whilst this was an exciting time it was also a time of uncertainty for tenants. However, the Authority had been able to keep the rent increase for 2020/21 at an average of 2.7% and that this achievement should not be underestimated.  Over the next year the Authority would need to ensure clarity from Welsh Government on future financial priorities in terms of maintaining existing standards, introduction of new standards to support the decarbonisation agenda and building affordable homes for those in need. 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the following recommendations of the Executive Board be adopted:-