Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Housing Strategy Manager seeking approval for the Council’s Housing Strategy 2012-15.

Approved the contents of the Housing Strategy 2012/2015.

Consideration was given to a report by the Housing Strategy Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached a copy of the Housing Strategy 2012/2015.

Members were advised that the Strategy spanned a shorter timeframe than previous documents due to the challenges and changes being experienced by the Authority including the impact of the National Planning Policy Framework, Welfare Reform Act and Localism Act and the National Housing Strategy.

Having noted the deliberations of and conclusions reached by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being) on the content of the Strategy and in stressing the Council’s commitment to enabling housing which meets local needs, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the Housing Strategy 2012 – 2015 be approved.

To receive a report from the Head of Planning and Housing Strategy on the Council’s Housing Strategy 2012-15.

20 Minutes.

(See Members’ Interests)

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Planning and Housing Strategy (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) proposing the adoption of a new Housing Strategy 2012-15 for Huntingdonshire.The Housing Strategy Manager drew the Panel’s attention to a number of achievements made under the previous Housing Strategy 2006-11 and to housing related trends for the Huntingdonshire area, in particular, population projections and changes in average house prices. These suggested there was a need to maximise opportunities to deliver more affordable housing. Having advised the Panel that the revised Strategy focused on the Council’s new priority areas, Members’ attention was drawn to the key messages arising from the document.

In response to a question on the impact of developments on individuals’ quality of life, the Head of Planning and Housing Strategy informed Members that there was a need to ensure that the right balance was achieved between the two and that due process was always followed. He then went on to state that the National Planning Policy Framework placed a duty on the Council to meet the housing needs of the District and that attempts were made to ensure that large scale developments were located in the least harmful areas. Following discussion on the role and importance of communication during large scale housing developments, Members concluded that good communication was important in terms of challenging negative attitudes towards such proposals.

Councillor R Carter queried whether there had been any changes in private sector rental rates and how they compared with the public sector. The Scrutiny and Review Manager reported that this was being pursued by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) with a recent report to that Panel having revealed that there had been little change in rent levels. He undertook to forward a copy of the report to Councillor Carter.

Other matters that were discussed included homelessness levels within the District and the role and importance of community planning within Parishes. Having regard to the latter, the Head of Planning and Housing Strategy advised that some communities had identified older people’s homes as one of their community priority areas. These views would assist with shaping local planning policy in future years. Having expressed their satisfaction with the content of the Strategy, the Panel

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be recommended to endorse the Housing Strategy 2012-15 for Huntingdonshire as appended to the report now submitted.