Agenda item

To consider motions from councillors in accordance with Council procedure rule 38. 

Motion to be proposed by Councillor Debby Hallett, seconder to be notified:

Council notes that Vale of White Horse is an area of exceptionally high property values relative to the rest of England.

Council notes that the statutory definition of ‘Affordable Housing’, whether to buy or to rent, is related directly to these property values (currently 80% of market value).

Council notes the study brought to Vale Scrutiny Committee in February 2018 by the then interim head of housing and economic development, which shed further light on the nature of affordability in Vale of White Horse. 

-      This study looked at house prices and rents in quartiles and determined that to buy a lower quartile property, costing £255,000 in Vale, an income of £57,000 is needed, which is an upper quartile income. So only the highest income levels can afford to buy the lowest priced properties in our district. 

-      Over recent years, growth in local incomes has not kept pace with growth in house prices or rents, so the so-called ‘affordable’ housing is not affordable to too many households and individuals.

Therefore, Council asks Councillor Roger Cox, Leader of the council, to write to James Brokenshire, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government setting out the council’s concern. Council urges the Secretary of State to give consideration to the definition of affordable housing, taking into account the impact very high property values have on the current definition. Council urges him to consider a national debate on affordability and the implementation of a regional based definition of ‘affordable housing’, using a maximum price model for affordable housing within an area based on local incomes and circumstances, rather than the market value of the house.

Motion proposed by Councillor Debby Hallett, seconded by Councillor Bob Johnston:

Council notes that Vale of White Horse is an area of exceptionally high property values relative to the rest of England.

Council notes that the statutory definition of ‘Affordable Housing’, whether to buy or to rent, is related directly to these property values (currently 80% of market value).

Council notes the study brought to Vale Scrutiny Committee in February 2018 by the then interim head of housing and economic development, which shed further light on the nature of affordability in Vale of White Horse. 

-      This study looked at house prices and rents in quartiles and determined that to buy a lower quartile property, costing £255,000 in Vale, an income of £57,000 is needed, which is an upper quartile income. So only the highest income levels can afford to buy the lowest priced properties in our district. 

-      Over recent years, growth in local incomes has not kept pace with growth in house prices or rents, so the so-called ‘affordable’ housing is not affordable to too many households and individuals.

Therefore, Council asks Councillor Roger Cox, Leader of the council, to write to James Brokenshire, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government setting out the council’s concern. Council urges the Secretary of State to give consideration to the definition of affordable housing, taking into account the impact very high property values have on the current definition. Council urges him to consider a national debate on affordability and the implementation of a regional based definition of ‘affordable housing’, using a maximum price model for affordable housing within an area based on local incomes and circumstances, rather than the market value of the house.

With the consent of Council and following a short adjournment to consider a proposed amendment, the mover and seconder of the original motion accepted amended wording suggested by Councillor Ed Blagrove and seconded by Councillor Mike Badcock (new words in bold deleted words shown by a strikethrough).

It is a priority for this council to provide enough affordable housing for the needs of our residents, however it is also a great challenge to do so given the current definition of affordable housing and the model upon which it is based.

Council notes that Vale of White Horse is an area of exceptionally high property values relative to the rest of England.

Council notes that the statutory definition of ‘Affordable Housing’, whether to buy or to rent, is related directly to these property values (currently 80% of market value).

Council notes the study brought to Vale Scrutiny Committee in February 2018 by the then interim head of housing and economic development, which shed further light on the nature of affordability in Vale of White Horse. 

-      This study looked at house prices and rents in quartiles and determined that to buy a lower quartile property, costing £255,000 in Vale, an income of £57,000 is needed, which is an upper quartile income. So only the highest income levels can afford to buy the lowest priced properties in our district. 

-      Over recent years, growth in local incomes has not kept pace with growth in house prices or rents, so the so-called ‘affordable’ housing is not affordable to too many households and individuals.

This Council requestsTherefore, Council asks Councillor Roger Cox,as Leader of the council, to write to the James Brokenshire, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to oversee a review, as a matter of urgency, into the definition of affordable housing, to strongly consider a more regional based model and the introduction of a maximum cost per housing type. setting out the council’s concern. Council urges the Secretary of State to give consideration to the definition of affordable housing, taking into account the impact very high property values have on the current definition. Council urges him to consider a national debate on affordability and the implementation of a regional based definition of ‘affordable housing’, using a maximum price model for affordable housing within an area based on local incomes and circumstances, rather than the market value of the house.

Councillors noted that affordable rents and affordable home ownership is linked to local market house prices which are well above the national average. To meet the statutory definition of affordable can be far more expensive than many other parts of the country relative to local income, impacting on the ability of people to get on the property ladder or find suitable accommodation.

RESOLVED:

That it is a priority for this council to provide enough affordable housing for the needs of our residents, however it is also a great challenge to do so given the current definition of affordable housing and the model upon which it is based.

This Council requests Councillor Roger Cox, as Leader of the council, to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to oversee a review, as a matter of urgency, into the definition of affordable housing, to strongly consider a more regional based model and the introduction of a maximum cost per housing type.