AGENDA ITEM NO. 9
REPORT TO: / Executive Board
REPORT NO: / CHPPO/96/07
DATE: / 4 September 2007
LEAD MEMBER: / Councillor Rodney Skelland (Social Affairs, Health and Housing)
LEAD OFFICER: / Chief Housing and Public Protection Officer
CONTACT OFFICER: / Clive A Roberts (Tel: 315581)
SUBJECT: / Bid for Specific Capital Grant for Housing Renewal Areas 2008/09
WARD: / N/A
1 PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
To seek Members approval of a bid to the Welsh Assembly Government for Specific Capital Grant for Housing Renewal Areas in 2008/09. A copy of the Executive Summary is attached at Appendix A and a copy of the full submission has been placed in the Members’ Room.
2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2.1 The Welsh Assembly Government wrote to Local Authorities in July 2007 inviting bids for Specific Capital Grant for Housing Renewal Areas 2008/09. The bids need to be submitted by 10 September 2007.
2.2 Funding resulting from this bid will enable private sector group repair housing improvements and environmental improvements to continue within the two declared Housing Renewal Areas of Brymbo/Broughton and South West Wrexham. The Housing Renewal area status for Smithfield Hightown Phase ends on 9 March 2008.
2.3 The bid is for a total Specific Capital Grant of £3,766,000 split between the Brymbo/Broughton Renewal Area (£2,284,400) and South West Wrexham Housing Renewal Area (£1,141,600).
3 RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1 That Members approve the bid to the Welsh Assembly Government for Specific Capital Grant for Housing Renewal Areas 2008/09
The bid comprises the following:
Brymbo/Broughton Housing Renewal Area / £ / 2,284,400South West Wrexham Housing Renewal Area / £ / 1,141,600
Total / £ / 3,766,000
3.2 That this matter be dealt with as an urgent item of business in accordance with Standing Order 42 (1) of the Council’s Standing Orders.
REASONS FOR THE RECOMMENDATION
To ensure that a suitable bid for funding is submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government to enable the continuation of the Authority’s Private Sector Housing Renewal Area Programme.
Andy Lewis
Chief Housing and Public Protection Officer
4 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
4.1 The funding for Housing Renewal Areas is through a bidding process for Specific Capital Grant from the Welsh Assembly Government.
4.2 Bids for funding for 2008/09 have been invited and need to be received by the Welsh Assembly Government by 10 September 2007.
4.3 For 2007/08 the Authority submitted a bid for a total of £3.9 million and received funding of £1.9 million, which was one of the highest funding levels in Wales.
4.4 The Audit Commission in their 2002/03 inspection report on the Private Sector Housing Best Value Review commented on the Authority having “a good record of addressing area based problems through the declaration of Renewal Areas” and this funding will allow the work to continue.
4.5 The carrying out of this work will help to achieve identified priorities/tasks in the Community Strategy, the Corporate Strategy Statement, Housing Renewal Policy and the Local Housing Strategy.
4.6 It is anticipated that Authorities will be notified of the outcome of their bids by January 2008.
5 CONSULTATION
The bid is based upon information gathered during the Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment process which is a twelve month public consultation exercise required to be carried out prior to the declaration of all Housing Renewal Areas.
The Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment has been carried out in respect of the declared Housing Renewal areas of Brymbo/Broughton and South West Wrexham.
6 SCRUTINY COMMITTEE COMMENTS
The bid has not been considered by Scrutiny Committee due to the short timescale involved in submitting the bid.
7 IMPLICATIONS
7.1 Policy Framework The proposal is supported in the Council’s Policy Framework as follows:-
i The Corporate Strategy Statement
The vision for The County Borough includes a County Borough with revitalised distinct towns and villages. It is considered that this proposal contributes to this vision.
ii The Local Housing Strategy
The policy has been reviewed and is scheduled for publication following full Council on the 26 September 2007. The policy which was approved by the Scrutiny Committee on the 11 July 2007 and by Executive Board on the 17 July 2007 includes a strategy of targeting assistance at vulnerable groups and links have been made with the Community Safety Strategy, Fuel Poverty Strategy and the Health, Social Care and Well-Being Strategy. Investment in Housing Renewal Areas is contributing significantly to achieving the aims and objectives of these strategies.
iii The Housing Renewal Policy
This policy contains the proposal to continue to carry out neighbourhood renewal assessments and subsequently declare Housing Renewal Areas in accordance with current legislation. A review of the policy is currently being undertaken.
7.2 Budget The report is to seek members approval of a bid to the Welsh Assembly Government for Specific Capital Grant for Housing Renewal Areas for 2008/09.
Funding for Housing Renewal Areas has always been subject to an annual bidding process to the Welsh Assembly Government. However this is the fifth year that a specific capital grant has been made available, whereas previously this was subject to the granting of Supplementary Credit Approval.
7.3 Legal There are no legal implications to the report.
7.4 Staffing There are no staffing implications from the report.
7.5 Other The Welsh Assembly Government has made it clear over the last twelve months that when considering bids for Specific Capital Grant the Minister would take into account the amount of resources Authorities are committing to support their published housing renewal policies.
BACKGROUND PAPERS / LOCATION / WEBSITE INFO1 Executive Summary of the bid to the Welsh Assembly Government for Specific Capital Grant for Housing Renewal Areas 2008/09.
2 Wrexham Housing Renewal Policy
3 Wrexham Local Housing Strategy / Attached at Appendix A
/ www.wrexham.gov.uk
www.wrexham.gov.uk