COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 09, 2015

HEADED ITEM NO 4f) (i)

HEADED ITEM: C. Services Department

STRATEGIC POLICY COMMITTEES

f) Housing SPC

(i) Report of meeting, 19th February 2015

REPLY:

Report of Housing Strategic Policy Committee

Held on the 19th h February 2015

In the Community Services Conference Room

Attendance 

Members	Council Officials
Cllr T Gillgan	Hugh Hogan Senior Executive Officer
Cllr L Dunne	Y Dervan Senior Executive Officer
Cllr E O'Broin	E Conroy County Architect
Cllr C King	B Martin Administrative Officer
Cllr G. Kenny
Cllr M. Genockey
Cllr M. Duff
Cllr Kieran Mahon
Brendan MacPhiarias Nabco
Betty Tyrell ICTU Representative
Tricia Nolan, Volunteer Bureau

Apologies

H-I(1)            MINUTES

The minutes of the Housing and Social Development Strategic Policy Committee Meeting held on 16th November 2014 were proposed by Councillor C. King , seconded by Councillor M. Duff and confirmed and approved as a true record and signed.

H-1(2) Housing Strategy-Supply Mechanisms

Eddie Conroy County Architect made a presentation on direct provision of housing by the Council. He stated that successful schemes were a combination of good design, quality build and sustainable development. He informed the committee that the Council has received approval to build 15 units and is awaiting budget approval for a further 57 units. He also informed the committee that at the March meeting there will be a headed item to present the Part 8 Schedule for the Council to build 647 units.

The Part 8 process will be managed by the Architects Department and if we received budget approval from the DECLG the tender process and the construction process will be managed by consultant architects. The Council will also look to work in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies in managing certain development like apartment blocks.

Hugh Hogan Senior Executive Officer then made a presentation on the different supply mechanisms that will be supplied under the Social Housing Strategy. He then discussed the capital and revenue supply mechanisms with the Committee.

Capital Supply

• Social Housing Investment Programme to provided units through Direct build and Direct Purchase,  
• Capital Assistance Scheme and Capital Loan Scheme operated by the Approved Housing Bodies
• Part 5 currently 15% requirement but will revised to 10% in the new planning bill

The above schemes are 100% funded and expenditure in this area would effect the National Debt

• Borrowing (HFA and Private)- This is were Approved Housing Bodies borrow to fund capital projects and this is considered an Off Balance sheet as it does not effect the National Debt

Revenue Supply Mechanisms

• Rental Accommodation Scheme
• Leasing
• Housing Assistance Payment

These are all funded from the Governments Revenue budget and are considered client driven as tenants procure the properties through private landlords.

The new supply mechanisms were then discussed which included the following areas:

• Tuath Nua (HFA / EIB)
• SPV / ALMO (HFA)
• Private Finance (REIT)
• PPP / Joint Venture
• NARPS
• Build to lease

The full version of the report can be viewed here.

The report was noted by the Committee

H-1(3) Sub Committees

It was agreed by the members that initially two sub-committees would be set dealing with the areas of :

Housing Supply and homeless

Anti-Social Behaviour

A number of members were interested in joining the sub-committees and it was agreed that Brian Martin would e-mail all members for expression of interest, requesting for external participants and setting of policy agenda. It was planned that the sub-committees would meet before the next SPC

H-1(4) AOB

• Members asked a number of queries in relation to the Choice Based Letting System.
• Members asked for information on current Part 5 Requirements and the effect of the new Housing Bill.
• Members asked for information on the Housing Assistance Payments in relation to transfers
• Members asked for report on RAS allocation net of terminations.

The Council official replied to various queries and agreed to provide the requested reports

The meeting concluded at 7.05 pm