Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Housing Strategy Manager seeking adoption of the Housing Strategy 2017-20 and Housing Strategy Action Plan 2017-18.

To adopt the Housing Strategy 2017-20 and Housing Strategy Action Plan 2017-18.

Consideration was given to a report by the Housing Strategy Manager to which was appended The Huntingdonshire Housing Strategy and the Housing Strategy Action Plan April 2017 to March 2018, (Copies of the report, Strategy and Action Plan are appended in the Minute Book). Executive Councillors were informed that the Huntingdonshire Housing Strategy addressed housing issues in the District, the legislative changes relevant to the housing sector and potential impact upon the provision of housing in Huntingdonshire. The Strategy detailed how the District Council aimed to improve housing issues for residents and deliver economic growth through its Corporate Plan. The Action Plan sets out key actions to be undertaken in the first year of the Housing Strategy. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the Huntingdonshire Housing Strategy 2017-20 and Housing Strategy Action Plan 2017-2018 be adopted.

Members are to receive the Huntingdonshire Housing Strategy 2017 to 2020.

With the aid of a report by the Housing Strategy Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Huntingdonshire Housing Strategy 2017-2020 was presented to the Panel.

The Executive Councillor for Housing and Regulatory Services stated that in addition to the Housing Strategy, a Housing Strategy Action Plan had been prepared and will be in place for one year during 2017-18. Members were informed that the Council has placed an emphasis on dealing with the housing needs of the growing population.

Members were reminded of the Registered Social Providers Workshop that took place last year to investigate the potential effect of the rent cap. The two outcomes from the workshop was to review the Band D on the Housing Register and the submission of a letter to the Housing Minister. In response to the question of the progression of those action points, the Panel was informed that the letter was submitted to the Housing Minister and a reply was received. The Band D work is progressing with the Customer Services team with the focus on managing residents on Band D more effectively.

Following the concern that was expressed regarding the stated housing trajectory the Executive Councillor stated that he is confident that the amount of housing completions can be delivered. Members were informed that the housing trajectory graph comes from the annual monitoring report in which developers told the Council how many sites they are intending to build out and when.

A discussion ensued regarding Rural Exception Sites and the promotion of them. The Panel was informed that whilst in the Action Plan, the Council are providing a myth busting tour and a half day workshop to raise awareness, Members were told that they are best placed to advocate rural exception sites to their Parish Councils and the wider community.

A Member raised a concern that there are not the resources for priorities seven to twelve however clarification was given that it is not the case that resources are not available but rather the results don’t warrant the resource.

In response to a question regarding empty homes clarification was given that the Council can encourage empty homes to be occupied through a few measures. Members were encouraged that if they are aware of specific circumstances then they can raise them with the Housing Strategy Manager,

The Panel endorsed the Housing Strategy 2017-20 and the Housing Strategy Action Plan 2017-18 and recommend to Cabinet that it be adopted.

In addition the Panel would like the Housing Strategy and the Action Plan to return to a future Panel meeting to access whether the Council are meeting the targets set out.

(At 7.29pm, during the consideration of this item, Councillor R Harrison left the meeting and did not return.)