Issue - meetings

To consider a confidential report by Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Lead Member for Finance and Assets (copy enclosed) asking Cabinet to recommend the voluntary agreement to Council for approval and seeking delegated authority to finalise the detail of the agreement.

RESOLVED that Cabinet  –

(a)       recommend the voluntary agreement to Council for approval and note the key milestones being worked to in order to exit the HRAS system, and

(b)       subject to Council approving the voluntary agreement, delegated authority be given to the Lead Member for Finance and Assets and the Chief Accountant to finalise the detail of the agreement in discussion with the Welsh Local Government Association, Welsh Government and the ten other stock retention authorities in Wales.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill presented the confidential report requesting Cabinet recommend the voluntary agreement to Council for approval and approve delegated authority to finalise the detail of the agreement.

The report outlined the key milestones for exiting the HRAS system and provided an overview of the voluntary agreement to be signed between the eleven stock retention authorities and the Welsh Government to enable the exit to take place.  Councillor Hugh Irving elaborated upon the collaborative working between authorities and paid tribute to the hard work of the finance and housing officers in that regard.  Members familiarised themselves with the collaborative agreement and welcomed the benefits of the proposed new system and financial advantages for Denbighshire.  Officers responded to questions raised regarding the financial implications of the buy-out together with potential future investment in affordable housing stock and implications of the possible merger with Conwy.  Councillor Eryl Williams reiterated his view that the Council’s plans to building affordable housing should be publicised as a good news story.  Councillor Thompson-Hill thought it would be a good opportunity to publicise the plans when the buy-out of the housing subsidy was considered at full Council.

RESOLVED that Cabinet  –

(a)       recommend the voluntary agreement to Council for approval and note the key milestones being worked to in order to exit the HRAS system, and

(b)       subject to Council approving the voluntary agreement, delegated authority be given to the Lead Member for Finance and Assets and the Chief Accountant to finalise the detail of the agreement in discussion with the Welsh Local Government Association, Welsh Government and the ten other stock retention authorities in Wales.