Issue - meetings

To receive a report setting out the strategic direction for housing in Huntingdonshire for the next two years, which includes the housing priorities for the District together with an action plan that will recognise these priorities.

Executive Councillor: S Wakeford.

The Cabinet has

(a)  noted the contents of the report now submitted; and

(b)  agreed to the Mid Term Review of the Housing Strategy and Action Plan.

Consideration was given to a report by the Regeneration and Housing Delivery Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on a mid-term review of the Housing Strategy 2020 – 2025. The Executive Councillor for Jobs, Economy and Housing informed Members that following review it presented an opportunity to align the Strategy with the Council’s Corporate Plan and Place Strategy and also to take account of the 2021 Census data that had not been reflected in the Strategy thus far.

In drawing attention to the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) held on 7th June 2023, the Executive Councillor confirmed the scope to include agricultural workers with a revised definition of Essential Workers to be issued by Government, addressed the issue of  under occupation of social housing and scope for working with social landlords to manage the situation whilst respecting the rights of tenants and the review of Disabled Facilities Grants was expected to take place during the course of 2023/24 to address the anticipated growth in this area of need.

Whereupon, the Cabinet has

RESOLVED

(a)  to note the contents of the report now submitted; and

(b)  to agree to the Mid Term Review of the Housing Strategy 2020 – 2025 and Action Plan.

The Panel is invited to comment on the Mid Term Review of the Housing Strategy.

Executive Councillor: S Wakeford

By means of a report by the Regeneration and Housing Delivery Manager (a copy of which was appended in the Minute Book), the Mid Term Review of the Housing Strategy 2020-2025 was presented to the Panel.

In response to a question from Councillor Gardener on whether agricultural workers would be included within the definition of key workers, the Panel heard that there was a suggestion that this term maybe replaced with Essential Workers by Government in the future, the Council would expect this type of demand to be identified as part of Housing Needs Surveys in local parishes the Council would then use opportunities to meet that demand, within existing policy in the Local Plan.

Following a question from Councillor Pickering, it was acknowledged that whilst an ongoing issue of under occupation of social housing exists, it is a sensitive issue. The Panel were assured that the Council would continue to work in partnership with Social Landlords to manage the situation as proactively as possible in line with the tenancies of those residents affected.

In response to a question from Councillor Harvey regarding Disabled Facilities Grants, the Panel heard that a piece of work would be planned to review and assess the current need and anticipated demand in this area.

Following an observation from Councillor Blackwell on the alarming statistics surrounding dementia sufferers, the Panel heard that the report outlines the importance of the work being undertaken in aligning the stark challenges faced by the Council.

Having praised a comprehensive report, it was thereupon

RESOLVED

that the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel be passed to Cabinet for their consideration when making a decision upon the recommendations contained within the report.