The Borough Housing Business Plan [PDF] (470k) identifies priorities for investment in Guildford Borough Council's housing and housing services over the next five years. It was approved in 2004 as 'fit for purpose' by the Government Office for the South East.
The business plan is reviewed regularly. To ensure priorities for spending on borough housing homes and housing services continue to match those of tenants, a consultation exercise is carried out each year.
Stock options
The government required all local authorities that own and manage their stock to look at options for the management and ownership of their housing. To meet this requirement, consultants, Housing Quality Network, were engaged in November 2002 to carry out an Options Appraisal. The council considered the findings of the consultation exercise on 19 February 2004 and decided to retain management and ownership of its housing stock.
In making this decision we took the following into account:
- The majority of tenants, shared owners and leaseholders would prefer the council to retain its housing.
- There is expected to be enough money available to bring all Guildford's council properties up to the Government's Decent Homes Standard by 2010.
- Money is also available to improve the majority of Guildford's homes to a higher standard by 2014.
- It is possible to maintain housing services at the current level and standard.
- Adequate funding is available to achieve the council's target of providing 500 additional affordable homes by 2007. These new homes will be provided in partnership with Housing Associations as this maximises the number of new homes that can be provided with the funds available.
We recognise that if there is a significant change in circumstances it may be necessary to reconsider the alternative choices for management and ownership of the stock. This could happen, for example, if there is a change in the government's funding arrangements for council housing.
For any further advice, please contact the Head of Neighbourhood and Housing Management Services:
Head of Neighbourhood and Housing Management Services
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 4BB
Tel: 01483 444318
Email: philip.odwyer@guildford.gov.uk