Greater London Authority Act 2007

Part 6 Housing

28 The London housing strategy

(1) Section 41 of the GLA Act 1999 (general duties of the Mayor in relation to his strategies) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1) (the strategies to which the section applies) after paragraph (bb) (inserted by section 24(2) above) insert—

“(bc) the London housing strategy prepared and published under section 333A below,”.

(3) In subsection (9) (targets for implementation of strategies) after “any strategy mentioned in subsection (1) above” insert “, except the London housing strategy,”.

(4) After section 333 of that Act (miscellaneous powers and duties relating to Part 7) insert—

“Part 7A Housing

333A The London housing strategy

(1) The Mayor shall prepare and (subject to section 333B(1) below) publish a document to be known as the “London housing strategy”.

(2) The London housing strategy shall contain—

(a) the Mayor’s assessment of housing conditions in Greater London and of the needs of Greater London with respect to the provision of further housing accommodation;

(b) any proposals or policies of the Mayor to promote the improvement of those conditions and the meeting of those needs;

(c) a statement of the measures which other persons or bodies are to be encouraged by the Mayor to take for the purpose of improving those conditions and meeting those needs;

(d) a statement of the Mayor’s spending recommendations for the relevant period.

(3) The Mayor’s spending recommendations for any period are—

(a) a recommendation to the Secretary of State as to how much of the money allocated by him during the relevant period for housing in Greater London should be made available to the Housing Corporation for the purpose of making housing grant;

(b) recommendations to the Housing Corporation as to how it should exercise its functions of making housing grant (see subsection (4) below), so far as relating to Greater London (and see also section 333D(1) (duty of Housing Corporation to have regard to the recommendations));

(c) a recommendation to the Secretary of State as to how much of the money allocated by him during the relevant period for housing in Greater London should be granted to each local housing authority in Greater London.

(4) Recommendations under subsection (3)(b) above may include—

(a) recommendations as to the amount of grant which should be made for the different activities or purposes in respect of which grant may be payable;

(b) recommendations as to the number, type and location of houses which should be provided by means of grant.

(5) The London housing strategy shall contain a statement of the Mayor’s expectations as to how local housing authorities will use any money granted to them as mentioned in subsection (3)(c) above.

(6) The London housing strategy shall also contain such other matters relating to housing in Greater London as the Secretary of State may direct.

(7) In preparing or revising the London housing strategy the Mayor shall have regard to—

(a) the effect of his proposals and policies on any region which adjoins Greater London;

(b) any guidance given to him by the Secretary of State regarding the preparation or revision of the strategy.

(8) In preparing or revising the London housing strategy the Mayor shall consult—

(a) the Housing Corporation;

(b) such bodies as appear to him to be representative of registered social landlords.

(9) Where the Mayor revises the London housing strategy, he shall (subject to section 333B(1) below) publish it as revised.

(10) In this section—

• “housing accommodation” and “house” are to be construed in accordance with section 56 of the Housing Act 1985;

• “housing grant” means grant under section 18 or 27A of the Housing Act 1996;

• “local housing authority” has the same meaning as in section 1 of the Housing Act 1985;

• “region” has the same meaning as in section 1 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998;

• “registered social landlord” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the Housing Act 1996;

• “the relevant period” means such period as is specified by the Secretary of State in guidance under subsection (7)(b) above;

and the reference in subsection (4)(b) above to providing houses by means of housing grant is to be construed in accordance with section 63(2) of the Housing Act 1996.

(11) In this Act, references to the London housing strategy include, except where the context otherwise requires, a reference to the London housing strategy as revised.

333B Submission of draft strategy to Secretary of State before publication

(1) The Mayor shall not publish the London housing strategy under section 333A(1) or (9) above until—

(a) he has submitted to the Secretary of State a draft of the strategy he intends to publish together with a statement of that intention, and

(b) the condition in subsection (2) is met.

(2) The condition is that—

(a) the consideration period has expired without the Secretary of State giving a direction under subsection (4) below, or

(b) the Secretary of State has given such a direction and the Mayor has complied with it.

(3) If the Secretary of State considers that—

(a) the draft strategy is inconsistent with current national policies relating to housing, or

(b) the implementation of the draft strategy would be detrimental to the interests of a region (within the meaning of section 333A above) which adjoins Greater London,

subsection (4) below applies.

(4) If, in any such case, the Secretary of State considers it expedient to do so for the purpose of—

(a) removing the inconsistency mentioned in subsection (3)(a) above, or

(b) avoiding the detriment mentioned in subsection (3)(b) above,

he may direct the Mayor to make such modifications to the draft as are specified in the direction.

(5) If the Secretary of State gives a direction under this section, the Mayor must make the modifications specified in the direction.

(6) The Secretary of State must consult the Mayor before giving him a direction under this section.

(7) The consideration period is—

(a) the period of 6 weeks beginning with the date notified to the Mayor by the Secretary of State as the date on which he received the draft strategy and statement of intention to publish it, or

(b) such longer period beginning with that date as the Secretary of State may specify in any particular case.

333C Reviews of the strategy

(1) If the Secretary of State so directs, the Mayor shall, within such time as the Secretary of State may specify in the direction,—

(a) review the London housing strategy or such part of it as may be specified in the direction, and

(b) make such revisions of the strategy or that part as he considers necessary in consequence of the review.

(2) The Secretary of State must consult the Mayor before giving him a direction under this section.

(3) Subsection (1) does not affect section 41(2) above.

333D Duties of Housing Corporation and local authorities

(1) In exercising any function under—

(a) section 18 of the Housing Act 1996 (social housing grants), or

(b) section 27A of that Act (grants to bodies other than registered social landlords),

the Housing Corporation shall have regard to the London housing strategy.

(2) Any local housing strategy prepared by a local housing authority in Greater London must be in general conformity with the London housing strategy.

(3) In subsection (2)—

• “local housing strategy” means—

  (a)

  any strategy required to be produced under section 87 of the Local Government Act 2003;

  (b)

  any other statement of the local housing authority’s policies or proposals relating to housing;

• “local housing authority” has the same meaning as in section 333A above.”.

(5) If the Secretary of State so directs, the Mayor must submit the draft London housing strategy to the Secretary of State pursuant to section 333B(1) by such date as is specified in the direction.

(6) The Secretary of State must consult the Mayor before giving him a direction under subsection (5).