Council looking to increase its housing stock

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An extra £15m could be put towards building more council houses across Caerphilly County Borough.

The borrowing cap is currently at £75 million, but it is proposed for this to increase to £90 million.

The additional funding would go towards “adequately funding” a proposed new-build programme, which would increase the council’s housing stock.

The money would also be used to ensure every council-owned house remains up to the standards set out in the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS).

In a Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee meeting, held on Tuesday, March 15, independent councillor Bob Owen, who represents Risca West, asked how the council ensures that houses in the borough, including those run by private landlords, are up to standard.

Nick Taylor-Williams, Head of Housing at the council, said that the local authority frequently conducts tenant satisfaction surveys and maintains a “transparent” relationship with landlords and housing associations.

The proposal is part of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) business plan for 2022/23 – a Welsh Government requirement of all local authorities in Wales.

The borrowing cap increase is set to go to the council’s cabinet for approval on Wednesday, March 23 – before going to full council on June 7.