Changes to the social housing and Gypsy Traveller allocation policies
Decided: The committee agreed that the Chair writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the committee's observations on the way forward.
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Welsh councils spent the month buying homes, setting council tax premiums on second and empty homes, and revising how social homes are allocated. Nationally, the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Act 2026 is being phased in.[9][7][5][19]
Written in November 2026 from council records since 20 September 2026, open consultations and official sources. Written automatically, then checked: every point names its sources and every figure appears in them. Follow the links to check anything before relying on it.
Councils must help people who are homeless or about to lose their home, find temporary places to stay, and plan for new affordable homes. Some councils own and manage council housing; in others, housing associations do.
The Cabinet member for housing leads, with big decisions at Cabinet. Housing plans and rent levels for council homes go to the Cabinet or full Council.
If you're at risk of losing your home, contact the council's housing options team as early as possible: the law says it must help. For wider issues, contact your councillors.
| Council | Items | With a decision |
|---|---|---|
| Flintshire | 54 | 35 |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | 51 | 49 |
| Vale of Glamorgan | 44 | 23 |
| Cardiff | 38 | 35 |
| Caerphilly | 37 | 0 |
| Pembrokeshire | 31 | 25 |
| Gwynedd | 30 | 29 |
| Carmarthenshire | 28 | 28 |
| Conwy | 24 | 22 |
| Swansea | 24 | 18 |
| Wrexham | 21 | 20 |
| Denbighshire | 18 | 17 |
| Powys | 15 | 9 |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 13 | 12 |
| Monmouthshire | 13 | 9 |
| Newport | 12 | 6 |
| Blaenau Gwent | 10 | 10 |
| Neath Port Talbot | 9 | 8 |
| Bridgend | 8 | 0 |
| Torfaen | 6 | 4 |
| Ceredigion | 4 | 4 |
Decided: The committee agreed that the Chair writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the committee's observations on the way forward.
RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the Governance & Audit Committee were assured that the Management Response responded to the identified recommendations within the Audit Wales report. (Option 1)
Decided: The committee deferred the application for a site visit, with internal and external inspections. The vote was 16 for, none against and none abstaining. Members also asked for a further report to a future meeting, with possible reasons for refusal and officers' recommendations.
Decided: The Committee approved the application, in line with the Director's recommendation.
Decided: The Committee approved the application, in line with the Director's recommendation.
Decided: The Committee approved the application, in line with the Director's recommendation.
Decided: The Committee approved the application, in line with the Director's recommendation.
Decided: The Committee approved the application, in line with the Director's recommendation.
Decided: The Committee approved the application, in line with the Director's recommendation.
Decided: The Committee approved the application, in line with the Director's recommendation.
Decided: The Committee approved the application, with the gym to open to the public Monday to Friday from 05:30 to 20:00 hours.
Decided: Members refused the application, against the recommendation of the Director, Housing and Regeneration. The reasons relate to access and pedestrian safety, and to the look and intensity of the scheme in the area.
Decided: Members refused the application, against the recommendation of the Director, Housing and Regeneration. The refusal used an updated reason put by officers at the meeting.
Decided: The Council agreed to introduce an extra council tax premium on long-term empty properties from 1 April 2027. The premium is 100% for properties empty one to five years, 200% for five to ten years, and 300% for ten years or more. The Council also agreed that the extra income will support bringing empty homes back into use, increasing housing supply and running the scheme. Detailed spending will be set through normal budget processes, and the Cabinet will receive an annual report.
Decided: The Committee granted three planning applications. They were decided under the Committee's delegated powers, in line with the officers' recommendations. Application 5a changes the use of Red Balloon Nursery, Circle Way East, Pentwyn, to a house in multiple occupation (HMO), meaning a shared house for several separate households. Application 5b is for a discount retail foodstore on Plot A, Wern Fawr Lane, Old St Mellons. Application 5c is for a single storey rear extension at 61 St Anthony Road, Heath.
Decided: The Committee granted planning permission, subject to a Section 106 legal agreement (a legally binding deal between the council and the developer) securing a £175,000 affordable housing contribution, an open space contribution and the conditions in the report. If the parties could not agree the affordable housing figure, the application would return to the Committee.
Decided: The committee approved application 2026/0393/S73 for land north of Garden Village. It changes condition 3 of the 2019 permission (2016/1478), so that reserved matters for the phases other than Phase 1 are due after 13 years instead of 7. The approval includes the updates reported to the meeting: amended conditions 20 and 21 and a corrected condition 24. It is subject to a revised Section 106 agreement.
Decided: Council resolved that the Vale of Glamorgan Biglis to Dinas Powys Active Travel Route Compulsory Purchase Order 2026 be made for the land shown in Appendices A-E. It also gave officers delegated authority to take the steps needed to make, confirm and carry out the Order, including negotiating with landowners and defending any legal challenge.
Decided: The Committee noted the dashboard.
Decided: Cabinet approved the purchase of 22 Waterloo Square, Milford Haven, for £80,000, for the Housing Revenue Account. Seven members voted for and none against.
Decided: Cabinet agreed to recommend that Council keep the second homes premium at 125% from 1 April 2027. It also agreed to recommend the current split of premium income: 92% to council budget elements on affordable housing and community sustainability, 6% to the Affordable Housing programme, and 2% to the Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant. Council decides on 15 October 2026.
Decided: Cabinet approved the acquisition of seven housing units at Ger y Môr, Saundersfoot, up to a maximum price set out in an exempt appendix, subject to satisfactory due diligence. The public was excluded for the appendix, so the price is not in the public record.
Decided: Cabinet agreed to recommend that Council keep the long-term empty property premium at 300% from 1 April 2027. It also agreed to recommend no change to how the income is used, with 98% funding council budget elements on affordable housing and community sustainability. Council decides on 15 October 2026.
Decided: The committee decided that candidate 93903 should be invited to a formal interview and advised of the presentation topic.
Decided: The Committee advised Cabinet of six recommendations. These asked the council to consider how the self-assessment adds value for the public, to review when the Committee is involved in future self-assessments, to strengthen independent evidence, to consider reflecting C1V/Contact Centre performance against contributing directorates, to give more information on homelessness performance, and to consider how it addresses misinformation.