The Chief Officer Finance, Performance and Change presented a report to confirm participation in Welsh Government’s National Empty Properties Scheme and seek approval from Cabinet to enter into a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council as lead authority for the National Empty Properties Scheme.

She explained that on the 17th November 2022, the Minister for Climate Change wrote to all local authorities to notify them that Welsh Government (WG) had granted approval for a national empty homes scheme, building on the previous empty homes scheme delivered as part of the Valleys taskforce. It confirmed that Welsh Government was committing £50million to the scheme split equally over 2 years, 2023-24 and 2024- 25. Further details were at section 3 of the report.

The Chief Officer Finance, Performance and Change explained that scheme will be fully operational from 1st April 2023, however, Welsh Government is intending to launch the scheme on 30th January 2023 to enable applications to begin to be processed leading into 2023-24. The main terms of the scheme were set out at section 3.6 of the report.

She requested Members to confirm participation in the scheme and agree to enter into the Service Level Agreement with RCT to take part in the scheme and ensure compliance with WG terms and conditions. Members were requested to delegate powers to the Chief Officer, Finance, Performance and Change and the Chief Officer Legal, HR and Regulatory Services to complete negotiations and sign the necessary paperwork.

The Cabinet Member Future Generations welcomed the report and stated that it went hand in hand with a report that was to be delivered to Council 8^th February 2023 on the Long Term Empty Property premiums on Council task. It was pleasing to see that Welsh Government recognised the importance of encouraging property owners to invest in their properties to ensure their appropriate use.

The Deputy Leader echoed these comments and believed the additional council tax that could be obtained from these properties would benefit local communities and it was a positive step forward in having more housing available for use in Bridgend.

The Leader stated that there had been a number of grants and schemes over the years relating to bringing empty homes and properties back into use. He asked if this SLA would replace these.

The Chief Officer Finance, Performance and Change stated that there were a number of different initiatives and funding streams which will remain in place when this is introduced in April, for example, Welsh Government has a Homes to Home scheme which provides loans to support residents as well as empty property grants that can help people adapt properties if needed. The SLA would be in addition to existing ones.

The Leader suggested that information of these grants be made available on the Councils website for the benefit of residents.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet delegate authority to the Chief Officer, Finance, Performance and Change and Chief Officer Legal, HR and Regulatory Services to:

• 9.1.1 negotiate and enter into a service level agreement with Rhondda Cynon Taf as lead authority for the National Empty Properties Scheme;

• 9.1.2 approve any extension or amendment to the service level agreement and to enter into any further deeds and documents which are ancillary to the service level agreement.