27

House of Commons

Tuesday 11th December 2007

Public Bill Committee

Housing and Regeneration Bill

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Note

The Amendments have been arranged in accordance with the Resolution of the

Programming Sub-Committee [6th December 2007].

Resolution of the Programming Sub-Committee

The Programming Sub-Committee appointed by the Speaker in respect of the Bill

agreed the following Resolution at its meeting on Thursday 6th December (Standing

Order No. 83C):

That—

(1)	the Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday

11th December) meet—

(a)	at 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 11th December;

(b)	at 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. on Thursday 13th December;

(c)	at 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. on Thursday 10th January;

(d)	at 10.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 15th January;

(e)	at 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. on Thursday 17th January;

(f)	at 10.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 22nd January;

(g)	at 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. on Thursday 24th January;

(h)	at 10.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 29th January;

(i)	at 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. on Thursday 31st January;

(2)	the Committee shall hear oral evidence in accordance with the following

Table;

TABLE

	Date	Time	Witness
	Tuesday 11th December	Until no later than 11.45 p.m.	Local Government Association;
			London Councils
	Tuesday 11th December	Until no later than 12.30 p.m.	Chartered Institute of Housing
	Tuesday 11th December	Until no later than 4.45 p.m.	National Housing Federation
	Tuesday 11th December	Until no later than 5.30 p.m.	Defend Council Housing
	Tuesday 11th December	Until no later than 6.15 p.m.	Tenants and Residents
			Organisations of England
	Tuesday 11th December	Until no later than 7.00 p.m.	Council of Mortgage Lenders
	Thursday 13th December	Until no later than 9.40 a.m.	Campaign to Protect Rural
			England
	Thursday 13th December	Until no later than 10.25 a.m.	Tribal Treasury Services
	Thursday 13th December	Until no later than 1.45 p.m.	Shelter
	Thursday 13th December	Until no later than 2.30 p.m.	Lord Best
	Thursday 13th December	Until no later than 4.00 p.m.	Department for Communities and
			Local Government

Public Bill Committee: 11th December 2007

28

Housing and Regeneration Bill, continued

(3)	proceedings on consideration of the Bill in Committee shall be taken in the

following order: Clause 1; Schedule 1; Clauses 2 to 9; Schedule 2; Clauses

10 and 11; Schedule 3; Clause 12; Schedule 4; Clauses 13 to 52; Schedule 5;

Clause 53; Schedule 6; Clauses 54 to 57; Clauses 59 and 60; new Clauses and

new Schedules relating to Part 1; Clauses 242 to 248; Schedule 8; Clauses

249 to 267; Schedule 9; Clauses 268 to 273; new Clauses and new Schedules

relating to Part 3; Clauses 61 to 241; new Clauses and new Schedules relating

to Part 2; Clause 274; Clause 58; Schedule 7; Clause 275; Schedule 10;

Clauses 276 to 280; remaining new Clauses; remaining new Schedules;

remaining proceedings on the Bill;

(4)	the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a

conclusion at 4.00 p.m. on Thursday 31st January.

Mr Iain Wright has given notice of his intention to move a motion in the terms of the

Resolution of the Programming Sub-Committee [Standing Order No. 83C(a)].

Mr Iain Wright

To move, That, subject to the discretion of the Chairman, any written evidence received

by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication.

Mr Iain Wright

To move, That, at this and any subsequent meeting at which oral evidence is to be

heard, the Committee shall sit in private until the witnesses are admitted.

Public Bill Committee: 11th December 2007

29

Housing and Regeneration Bill, continued

Grant Shapps

Robert Neill

Mr Eric Pickles

Alistair Burt

Mrs Jacqui Lait

Mr Paul Goodman

1

Clause  2,  page  1,  line  15,  at end insert—

‘(d)	to facilitate the provision and supply of home ownership including, in

particular, low cost home ownership through community land trusts.’.

Grant Shapps

Robert Neill

Mr Eric Pickles

Alistair Burt

Mrs Jacqui Lait

Mr Paul Goodman

2

Clause  14,  page  7,  line  10,  at end add—

‘(8)	Before exercising its powers under this section the HCA shall undertake formal

consultation with the local authority and organise public information and

consultation meetings with local community organisations and local people, in

respect of any development in the designated area.’.

Grant Shapps

Robert Neill

Mr Eric Pickles

Alistair Burt

Mrs Jacqui Lait

Mr Paul Goodman

3

Clause  26,  page  13,  line  2,  leave out ‘£2,300 million’ and insert ‘£1,000 million’.

Grant Shapps

Robert Neill

Mr Eric Pickles

Alistair Burt

Mrs Jacqui Lait

Mr Paul Goodman

4

Clause  26,  page  13,  line  5,  leave out ‘£3,000 million’ and insert ‘£1,500 million’.

Public Bill Committee: 11th December 2007

30

Housing and Regeneration Bill, continued

Grant Shapps

Robert Neill

Mr Eric Pickles

Alistair Burt

Mrs Jacqui Lait

Mr Paul Goodman

5

Clause  35,  page  15,  line  41,  at end add—

‘(10)

In exercising its powers under sections 31 to 47 the HCA shall have regard to the

powers of the Mayor under sections 333A to 333D of the Greater London

Authority Act 1999 (c. 29).’.

Grant Shapps

Robert Neill

Mr Eric Pickles

Alistair Burt

Mrs Jacqui Lait

Mr Paul Goodman

6

Clause  38,  page  17,  line  25,  leave out ‘as it considers appropriate’ and insert

‘before making such a determination’.

New clauses relating to part 1

Definition of “Community land trust”

Grant Shapps

Robert Neill

Mr Eric Pickles

Alistair Burt

Mrs Jacqui Lait

Mr Paul Goodman

nc1

To move the following Clause:—

‘“Community land trust” means a non-profit organisation which is an industrial

and provident society, a company limited by guaranteee or other incorporated

body whose governing instrument contains provisions to the following effect—

(a)	the primary purpose of the organisation is to hold land and other assets in

order to promote the social, economic and environmental sustainability

of a specified local geographic community by providing or facilitating

the provision of affordable or other sub-market housing or other

community-based facilities and services,

(b)	the organisation will not dispose of its land and other assets save in the

furtherance of its objectives as set out in paragraph (a),

(c)	the membership of the organisation is open to organisations which are

located in or persons whose principal place of residence, work or

business is located in the specified community the organisation is

Public Bill Committee: 11th December 2007

31

Housing and Regeneration Bill, continued

established to serve (although the organisation may have different classes

of membership),

(d)	over 50 per cent. of the governing body is elected by the members of the

organisation,

(e)	the organisation is accountable to the local community through annual

reporting or otherwise, and is responsive to the local community’s needs

and to representations made on its behalf, and

(f)	it is an organisation established to help enable the community and those

who live or work there to benefit from the land or other assets it holds.’.

Restrictions on powers

Grant Shapps

Robert Neill

Mr Eric Pickles

Alistair Burt

Mrs Jacqui Lait

Mr Paul Goodman

nc2

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)	Nothing in Part 1 shall allow the HCA to develop or facilitate the development of

green belt land.

(2)	The HCA shall not provide or facilitate the development of housing before

infrastructure has been provided or facilitated under section 7.

(3)	Before exercising its powers under sections 5 to 7 the HCA shall consult with the

local authorities in the areas where such powers are to be exercised.

(4)	In this section “green belt land” shall be construed in accordance with section

87(1)(e) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.’.

Report on HCA activities

Grant Shapps

Robert Neill

Mr Eric Pickles

Alistair Burt

Mrs Jacqui Lait

Mr Paul Goodman

nc3

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)	The Secretary of State must within 12 months of the coming into force of this Act,

and afterwards annually, prepare and lay before both Houses of Parliament a

report on the activities of the HCA.

(2)	A report under this section must, in particular, include or contain information

about—

(a)	the main activities undertaken by the HCA during the period;

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Housing and Regeneration Bill, continued

(b)	a value for money and efficiency statement in respect of such activities;

(c)	how the HCA is achieving its objects and exercising its powers;

(d)	the management of risk in respect of HCA projects;

(e)	how the HCA is co-ordinating and consulting with the government

departments and other public authorities involved with its work;

(f)	details of HCA income, expenditure and borrowing (under section 26);

and

(g)	any loans made by the Secretary of State under section 24.’.

new clauses relating to part 3

Abolition of home information packs

Grant Shapps

Robert Neill

Mr Eric Pickles

Alistair Burt

Mrs Jacqui Lait

Mr Paul Goodman

nc5

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)	Sections 148 to 170 of the Housing Act 2004 (c. 34) are hereby repealed.

(2)	A person who is selling a residential property must supply the purchaser with

information about the energy efficiency of the property.

(3)	The Secretary of State may make regulations prescribing the particular

information which is required or authorised to be included in, or which is to be

excluded from, such energy efficiency information and all other incidental

matters relating thereto.’.

Rough Sleepers Steering Group

Grant Shapps

Robert Neill

Mr Eric Pickles

Alistair Burt

Mrs Jacqui Lait

Mr Paul Goodman

nc7

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)	The Secretary of State shall, within six months of the coming into force of this

Act, establish a body (“the Steering Group”) to review the services provided to

rough sleepers in England and draw up an action plan to provide adequate hostel

and permanent accommodation.

(2)	The membership of the Steering Group shall include an equal number of

members from central government, local government, registered providers of

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Housing and Regeneration Bill, continued

social housing and other relevant charitable organisations, with an independent

chair.

(3)	The Steering Group shall make recommendations within six months of its

establishment in respect of the matters referred to in subsection (1).’.

Right to buy for tenants of registered providers of social housing

Grant Shapps

Robert Neill

Mr Eric Pickles

Alistair Burt

Mrs Jacqui Lait

Mr Paul Goodman

nc8

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)	A tenant of a registered provider of social housing has the right to buy the

dwelling of which he is a tenant if—

(a)	he is a tenant under an assured tenancy, other than an assured shorthold

tenancy or a long tenancy, and

(b)	he satisfies any further qualifying conditions applicable under Part V of

the Housing Act 1985.

(2)	The Secretary of State shall, within six months of the commencement of this Act,

introduce regulations in respect of the right to buy for registered providers of

social housing.

(3)	Regulations introduced under subsection (2) shall include provision to ensure that

the proceeds of disposal are allocated to the provision of further social housing.

(4)	Before making such regulations the Secretary of State shall consult with such

bodies as appear to the Secretary of State to be representative of registered

providers of social housing.’.

Grant Shapps

Robert Neill

Mr Eric Pickles

Alistair Burt

Mrs Jacqui Lait

Mr Paul Goodman

7

Clause  147,  page  60,  line  8,  at end insert ‘or amalgamating with another society’.

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Revised 11 December 2007