Council and councillors

(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 56/2017 from the Director for Places (Development and Economy) was received.

The Portfolio Holder, Mr Hemsley, introduced the report, the purpose of which was to gain approval for the Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2017-22 following consultation.

During discussion the following points were raised:

i)                 The former Highways depot at Ashwell was no longer believed to a suitable site.  Strategy to be updated to reflect this.

ii)               The Council’s affordable housing target was for 40 additional properties per year; in general would expect just over 50% to typically be 1 or 2 bedroom properties.

iii)              The housing register as at 1 April 2016 showed less demand for 3 and 4 or more bedroom properties than for 1 and 2 bedroomed properties.  However, the number of people on a list was not always the best indicator of the most urgent cases.  Council was working with some builders to  influence the market with regards to larger properties especially for ex-forces personnel.

iv)             The Action Plan 2017-22 (Appendix 1 of Appendix B to Report No. 56/2017) would be monitored by the Housing Working Review Group.  An Annual Report would be taken by the Health and Wellbeing Board; linking in with the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA).

v)               The Council was to receive grant funding of £40,000 for each of two years, to reduce homelessness.  Terms and Conditions would need to be considered by officers prior to a further decision being taken on how to review and allocate the funding.

vi)             There was a demand for properties for younger families and single people.

vii)            Respondents to consultation Ref. HHS7 in the summary of consultation responses and proposed changes (Appendix A to Report No. 56/2017) to be clarified.  Mr Walters expressed his disappointment that respondents had failed to engage meaningfully with the proposed change; that this was a wasted opportunity.

viii)           That this strategy needed to be highlighted in the poverty papers going forward.

DECISION

1)    That Cabinet AGREED to adopt the Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2017-22, attached as Appendix B to Report No. 56/2017.

Reason for Decision

1.     The production of a Homelessness Strategy was a statutory requirement and it was appropriate to produce a combined Housing and Homelessness Strategy to avoid duplication and to enable a cross-cutting strategic approach.  It would assist in meeting the challenges of homelessness prevention, service provision and temporary accommodation and the provision of new affordable housing at a difficult time.  It set out a strategic framework which would continue to promote the delivery of these objectives over the medium and long term.