North Hull Housing Action Trust (Hansard, 25 June 1993)

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment ( 1 ) if he will make a statement about the timetable for formulating the exit strategy for the tenants whose home improvements have been completed by the North Hull housing action trust;
(2) when tenants in South close within the North Hull housing action trust, who have indicated their wish to return to Hull city council, will have the opportunity to exercise this right; and if he will make a statement;
(3) when the exit strategy for First avenue tenants will be ready; and if the tenants will be allowed to exercise their right to return to Hull city council in October;
(4) what plans he has to use the Hull exit strategy as a model for all other housing action trusts.

§ Sir George Young
It is for the North Hull housing action trust to formulate its own exit strategy, and agree it with Ministers as part of the corporate planning process. The strategy needs to be consistent with the statutory objectives of housing action trusts as set out in Section 63 of the Housing Act 1988, and also with the guidelines issued by my Department to all housing action trusts on the disposal of tenanted properties. These require, among334W other things, that tenants should be consulted about a range of alternative landlords and ownership options before they are required to make final decisions about their future tenure. This is entirely consistent with the declaration of intention between Ministers, the leader of Hull city council and the chairman of the North Hull housing action trust in December 1991. As the North Hull housing action trust was the first housing action trust to be established, its exit strategy will inform those for subsequent housing action trusts. But each housing action trust will need to prepare and agree an exit strategy which fully reflects local circumstances.
I have agreed the proposal put to me by the North housing action trust that those tenants in South close who had indicated a clear preference to return to Hull city council before my Department's guidelines were issued should be enabled to do so as soon as the necessary procedures are completed. As for the tenants in First avenue, discussions are currently taking place between the North Hull housing action trust and my Department about the range of options that will be put to tenants before they are required to choose their future landlord. It is too early to say whether the formal consultation process will be completed in time for any tenants to change their landlords by October. But all tenants who wish to do so will be able to return to Hull city council, as agreed between Ministers, the city council and the chairman of the HAT in December 1991. The Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Bill, currently before Parliament, will strengthen this commitment by providing a statutory right for all HAT tenants to return to the council in the area in which their house is situated if they elect to do so.

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now fix a firm date to meet a delegation from Hull city council and the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North to discuss the affairs of the North Hull housing action trust.

§ Sir George Young
I have already told the leader of Hull city council that it is my intention to visit the North Hull housing action trust in the near future, at which time I would expect to meet representatives of the council. But in the meantime I should be happy to meet a delegation from the city council led by the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara).

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the relationship between the North Hull housing action trust and his Department's regional office at Leeds.

§ Sir George Young
I am satisfied that my Department's regional office is able to give the North Hull housing action trust the advice, guidance and support it needs to fulfil its statutory objectives and secure value for money.

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy, in his consultations with Hull city council for the replacement of the chairman of the North Hull housing action trust, that the appointee is independent and not directly connected with any political party.

§ Sir George Young
In looking for a successor to Mr. Liggins as chairman of the North Hull housing action trust, I shall be seeking to appoint someone who can secure the objectives of the housing action trust and gain the 335W confidence of the residents and of Hull city council. I would not wish to rule out someone who had held local government or ministerial experience provided they were prepared to accept that their relevant political activities would be in strict accordance with the code of conduct issued to all prospective board members.

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provision will be made for the division of responsibility for legal costs when the houses currently owned by the North Hull housing action trust are returned to the ownership of Hull city council.

§ Sir George Young
It is not necessarily the case that houses currently owned by the North Hull housing action trust will return to the ownership of Hull city council. It will be for individual tenants to decide on their future landlord. However, as I have agreed that those houses336W which return to the council after having been improved by the housing action trust should do so at nil cost to the council, I think it would be reasonable for the city council to meet all the legal costs.