Leader's blog - w/c 16 March 2026

“Our housing committee meets at 7pm on Tuesday 17 March, where we’ll be discussing our downsizing policy. This is a vital piece of work, as more than a quarter of children living in our properties are in overcrowded homes. In many ways, the policy could be more accurately described as our “giving children space to thrive” policy. We have enough under‑occupied homes to give every child the room they need.

We know moving home is a big step, but we offer grants of up to £2,500 and extensive practical help for anyone who chooses to downsize. A smaller home can mean lower rent and council tax, is easier to maintain and is usually cheaper to keep warm. We’ve widened our eligibility criteria so the vast majority of our tenants can now take part. Although the policy doesn’t apply to homes managed by other social landlords, please still get in touch if you’re interested in moving to or from another landlord, as we want to understand potential demand should we extend the scheme.

We’ll also be reviewing our mutual exchange policy, so do let us know if you have a household in mind to swap with.

We’re very aware that many households are feeling the pressure of rising costs, which may increase further given global events. Our retrofit programme continues to make more homes warmer and cheaper to run, and our Tenant Support Fund is available for those who need extra help.

Finally, we’ll receive an update on our new build programme. We’re currently on site with 41 of the 119 new homes planned, and we’re buying a further 33 properties from developers to keep them in the affordable housing sector. We’re also exploring additional opportunities for future acquisitions.

You can attend the meeting at Ebley Mill, or watch live on the council’s YouTube channel.”

Cllr Gary Luff, chair of Housing Committee