Purpose

To approve approach and immediate steps required in securing and managing the £26 million allocation, which will enable signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by August 2026 with Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Decision

RESOLVED:

A     To note the allocation of £26.1m capital funding to the Combined Authority, subject to agreeing and signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), to deliver a minimum of 870 new home starts on brownfield sites by 2031

B     To recommend to the Combined Authority Board Delegated Authority to the Executive Director of Place and Economy, in consultation with the Section 73 Officer and Monitoring officer, to finalise and sign the MOU on behalf of the Combined Authority once agreed with MHCLG

C     To recommend to the Combined Authority Board to note the request to MHCLG officials to release of revenue funding to enable to delivery of this capital fund while noting the staffing resources to mobilise and programme manage the Brownfield Housing Fund capital allocation. Further details will be provided to Committee and Board in the full breakdown of exact amount to be determined in the Outline Programme Business Case.

D     Note the proposed initial approach to utilising the joint Strategic Place Partnership (SPP) prioritised pipeline of Brownfield housing sites, development of the programme delivery plan and bring forward the Programme Business Case through Single Assurance Framework (SAF) process, in July.

Text in bold denotes a change to the recommendation