The Cabinet Member for Housing introduced the report which detailed  options for increasing delivery of affordable housing in the Borough and sought approval for the establishment of a Local Authority Housing Company (LHC).  He stressed that the Council were not looking to sell the car parks, this was just an option. The Cabinet Member for Housing said that development would support local builders. 

A Member praised the proposals which he said had been needed for a long time, and would make a significant difference.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Council pursue the mix of development options set out within the report for delivering affordable housing within the Borough.

(2)  That a procurement exercise be carried out on the identified land holdings in Sittingbourne, for proposals on developments that deliver (but not limited to) affordable homes.

(3) That the Council begins to establish a Council-owned housing company to deliver housing (LHC).

(4)  That Cabinet approve the drawdown of up to £250k of the capital budget provision to fund the due diligence and business planning work for the LHC and any necessary work on the identified Sittingbourne landholdings in order to carry out the procurement exercise.