Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Chief Executive.

The Leader presented the report on the Council’s response to the proposed Devon and Torbay Devolution Deal published by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Homes and Communities (DLUHC) and made the following points:-

·         the discussion around devolution had been going on for years;

·         the recommendation was to note the consultation;

·         the legislation was clear that district councils could not be constituent members of a CCA;

·         from a political point of view, some devolved powers would be handed back to local areas regardless of who won the next General Election;

·         in the event of a Labour victory at the General Election, a bespoke deal would be proposed to Exeter and Devon rather than the imposition of a Mayor;

·         the House of Lords had proposed amendments giving district councils voting rights within the CCA, but these were voted down by the Government;

·         £8 would be put aside towards the housing strategy;

·         on the issue of transport – of the utmost importance in Exeter-, it was disappointing that Plymouth City Council had opted not to be part of the CCA;

·         the deal presented was inevitable;

·         even without voting rights, the district councils would have a say in the CCA; and

·         Exeter City Council could have opted to take no part in any of the CCA’s structures, but it was essential that Exeter’s arguments could be put forward.

The Leader further advised that he had held constructive conversations with the other group leaders about the issue of the Business Advisory Committee, and it had been agreed that, in its report, the Council would be seeking to ensure that said committee, as well as a for-profit business representative, also featured:-

·         a not-for-profit business representative ( i.e. social enterprise); and

·         a voluntary and community sector representative.

Councillor M Mitchell, as co-Leader of the Progressive Group, was in agreement with the Leader but felt that:-

·         the transfer of certain powers from a lesser to a greater authority was contrary to the very idea of devolution;

·         decisions would be made that weren’t Exeter City Council’s priorities;

·         Exeter would essentially be a silent bystander to a higher-tier authority arrangement;

·         the money spent on setting up the CCA deal could have been put to better use;

·         each district Council within Devon had different needs and different demands; and

·         Exeter City Council must ensure that the CCA deal did not constitute the first step towards the creation of a unitary authority for Devon.

Councillor Moore, as co-Leader of the Progressive Group, made the following points:-

·         the CCA deal was a foregone conclusion;

·         Exeter City Council would inevitably be affected by the deal;

·         transport was indeed a priority for Exeter;

·         it was reassuring that the Devon and Torbay Devolution Deal appended to the report made reference to the environment and surprising that it used the term “climate emergency”; and

·         she welcomed the Leader’s decision to take on board her suggested amendments to the report but stressed the importance of ensuring that ECC’s representatives on the advisory boards scrutinised the CCA.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6

To consider the report of the Assistant Director of Housing.

The Leader reported that the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) had made £500 million available to Local Authorities to purchase housing for those households who had come to the UK from Ukraine and Afghanistan through the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine Scheme and the Afghan Resettlement Scheme. Exeter City Council had provisionally been identified as eligible for £1,842,378capital grant funding to purchase 15 homes.

It was permissible to bid for less than 15 properties which would reduce the level of grant received but which would negate the need for any potential borrowing by the City Council. It was therefore proposed that the Council does not take on additional borrowing and accepts a reduced allocation of £1,086,378 in DLUHC grant funding to purchase eight properties to be held in the Housing Revenue Account and that a bid be submitted on this basis by the deadline of 15 March 2023.

The Portfolio Holder for Customer Services and Council Housing and the Portfolio Holder for Communities and Homelessness Prevention welcomed the report, noting that once the resettlement needs had been met, the longer term use of the houses would be for local authority determination e.g. housing and homelessness relief.

The Leader moved and Councillor Wright seconded the recommendations and following a vote, the recommendations were carried unanimously.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)          the Council not take on additional borrowing and accepts a reduced allocation of £1,086,378 in DLUHC grant funding to purchase eight properties to be held in the Housing Revenue Account;

(2)          the Council’s capital contribution is funded through £1,537,906 of available Section 106 funds and from a £265,740 Homes For Ukraine (H4U) grant contribution from Devon County Council; 

(3)          the Council identifies and purchases suitable properties to let for eligible households using introductory tenancies for the first year and fixed term tenancies for up to five years; 

(4)          the rents be set as per the recommended rental funding model as set out in the table within the circulated report;

(5)          the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU), as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, be signed and returned to the DLUHC by the 15 March 2023 deadline confirming the Council’s participation in the programme and allow payment from DLUHC; and

(6)          the Council grant delegated authority to the Director of City Development and Housing and the relevant Portfolio Holder to proceed with the acquisitions and to amend the number of properties purchased in line with the agreement above, including where additional Government grants may become available (providing no capital borrowing is involved).