Issue - meetings

To receive a report presenting the Draft Empty Homes Strategy 2026-2031 for consideration.

The Cabinet has

(1)  considered and approved the Draft Empty Homes Strategy 2026-2031 (Appendix 1); and

(2)  delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Place and the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources (S151 Officer) in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Economy, Regeneration and Housing and Executive Councillor for Resident Services and Corporate Performance to initiate and progress enforcement action against the owners of long-term empty properties where:

·  the property is causing blight, nuisance or negative community impact;

·  the owner has failed to engage with the Council despite reasonable attempts to contact them; and

·  no credible plan has been provided to bring the property back into use within a reasonable timeframe.

A report by the Private Sector Housing Officer was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) presenting the Draft Empty Homes Strategy 2026-2031.

The Executive Councillor for Economy, Regeneration and Housing, Councillor Wakeford introduced the report, advising that the report had initially gone through the Scrutiny process in January deliberately to allow time for reworking to take place following comments from the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Performance & Growth). The Strategy was one of several levers in helping the delivery of additional housing for residents. The Executive Councillor for Resident Services and Corporate Performance, Councillor Ferguson commented that the strategy aligned with two of the corporate objectives which were keeping people out of crisis and helping people in crisis. It was important to have enforcement action as a last resort.

In response to a question from Cabinet as to whether the Empty Homes Strategy and Homes for Ukraine scheme could be linked, officers would take this matter away.

Whereupon it was

RESOLVED

that

1)  the Draft Empty Homes Strategy 2026-2031 (Appendix 1), be approved; and

2)  authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place and the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources (S151 Officer) in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Economy, Regeneration and Housing and Executive Councillor for Resident Services and Corporate Performance to initiate and progress enforcement action against the owners of long term empty properties where the property is:

·  causing blight, nuisance or negative community impact;

·  the owner has failed to engage with the Council despite reasonable attempts to contact them; and

·  no credible plan has been provided to bring the property back into use within a reasonable timeframe.