Issue - meetings

Meeting: 19/07/2019 - Cabinet (Item 23)

23 Cabinet Members' Items - Report of the Housing Portfolio Holder - A.3 - Draft Housing Strategy 2019 - 2024 "Delivering Homes To Meet The Needs Of Local People" pdf icon PDF 159 KB

To present the draft Housing Strategy 2019-2014 and seek approval to go out to public consultation.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED that –

 

(a)    the contents of the draft Housing Strategy 2019 – 2024 be approved; and

 

(b)    authorises the Corporate Director (Operational Services) to commence a consultation period of six weeks in order to seek the views of the public and partners on the proposed Housing Strategy.

Minutes:

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Housing Portfolio Holder (A.3) which presented the draft Housing Strategy 2019-2014 and sought its approval to go out to public consultation.

 

It was reported that the Housing Strategy had been drafted at a time of considerable change to the national housing landscape. Whilst local authorities were not required by Government to have a formal housing strategy, they were expected to adopt a strategic approach to housing in their local areas in order to deliver a thriving housing market and address local needs. The Council’s strategy had been developed, in order to guide the future delivery of new homes in the District and, especially, affordable housing for local people. It would also guide the future management and direction of our housing service.

 

Cabinet was informed that the Strategy set out the national and local strategic setting for housing and the demographics that had informed the development of the Strategy. It also set out the social indicators that presented the greatest challenges to the Council such as deprivation and health inequalities in some parts of the District and homelessness.

 

Members were made aware that the Strategy gave details on the local housing market and the demand for housing. It set out how the Council planned to deliver new housing in the District and the Council’s role as a landlord. Details were also given on the Council’s housing finances in relation to the Housing Revenue Account and General Fund.

 

Cabinet was advised that the Strategy identified four key strategic housing priorities namely:

 

·           Delivering homes to meet the needs of local people;

·           Reducing and preventing homelessness and rough sleeping;

·           Making the best use of and improving existing housing; and

·           Supporting people in their homes and communities.

 

During the debate on this item the level of satisfaction of Council House Tenants into the Council was commented on by the leader.

 

Having considered the information provided in the report and the contents of the Draft Housing Strategy appended thereto:-

 

It was moved by Councillor P B Honeywood, seconded by Councillor McWilliams and:-

 

RESOLVED that –

 

(a)    the contents of the draft Housing Strategy 2019 – 2024 be approved; and

 

(b)    authorises the Corporate Director (Operational Services) to commence a consultation period of six weeks in order to seek the views of the public and partners on the proposed Housing Strategy.