Extra £1 million set to be made available for South Kesteven District Council to buy more housing

An extra £1 million is set to be made available to allow the district council to increase its housing stock.

Members of South Kesteven District Council cabinet agreed yesterday (Monday) to recommend to full council to allocate a further £1 million from reserves to the housing revenue account which will allow the council to buy more housing if the opportunity arises.

Councillor Phil Dilks (Ind, Deeping St James), cabinet member for housing and planning, explained to the meeting that £3 million had already been allocated to pay for planned developments in Swinegate, Grantham, and Elizabeth Way in Stamford.

Coun Dilks said the extra £1 million would give the council that extra “flexibility” to take the opportunity to buy housing when it arose.

He added: “The council loses 40 houses from its stock every year through the right to buy. But we want to increase our housing stock if we can.”

Councillor Mark Whittington (Con, Grantham Barrowby Gate) told the meeting that Grantham and the rest of the district needed more social housing as there were many people who could not get onto the first rung of the property ladder.

Councillor Lee Steptoe (Lab, Grantham Earlesfield) added: “I am absolutely delighted by this. I have been banging the drum for more social housing. The ward I represent is just under 50 per cent social housing. But it’s not just my ward, this is across the district. This is absolutely what any progressive administration should be doing.”

Councillor Charmaine Morgan (Democratic Independent Group, Grantham St Vincent’s) welcomed the move and asked if there was a possibility for more funds to be made available. The meeting was told that the figure agreed applied to the rest of the financial year.