Issue - meetings

Following consideration of the draft Housing Strategy by the Homes Policy Development Group and the Scrutiny Committee, the following recommendations have been made:

The Homes Policy Development Group at its meeting on 20^th July 2021: have recommended to the Cabinet that the draft Housing Strategy 2021 – 2025, attached at annex 1, be approved for external and public consultation.

The Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 16 August 2021 have recommended that the strategy be approved for consutlation subject to:

·         Net Zero Carbon terminology be consistent throughout the strategy

·         The Project Board to only reference job titles and not named individuals

Following consideration of the *draft Housing Strategy by the Homes Policy Development Group and the Scrutiny Committee, the following recommendations have been made:

The Homes Policy Development Group at its meeting on 20^th July 2021: had recommended to the Cabinet that the draft Housing Strategy 2021 – 2025, attached at annex 1, be approved for external and public consultation.

The Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 16 August 2021 had recommended that the strategy be approved for consultation subject to:

·         Net Zero Carbon terminology be consistent throughout the strategy

·         The Project Board to only reference job titles and not named individuals

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Property Services outlined the contents of the report stating that the draft strategy has been well received by both the Homes Policy Development Group and the Scrutiny Committee and that now the comprehensive document was before the Cabinet for approval to go out to consultation.

Consideration was given to:

·         How well the draft strategy had been received

·         Whether the draft strategy was ambitious enough, the housing crisis was about affordability, did the strategy address social housing and council housing and whether the priorities of the Cabinet were correct.

·         Whether the 2 week consultation period was sufficient – it was explained that the consultation period would be for the whole of September and that the draft strategy set out what was deliverable, there were possibilities beyond this and that these would be worked on

RESOLVED that:

a)     The draft Housing Strategy 2021-25 as attached to Annex 1 of the report be approved for external and public consultation;

b)  The proposed timeline and stages for adoption of the Housing Strategy be NOTED

(Proposed by Cllr R B Evans and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)

Reason for the decision – there is a need for public consultation prior to the adoption of the strategy.

Note:  * draft Housing Strategy previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

To consider the draft strategy previously presented to Homes PDG on 20^th July 2021.

The Homes PDG at its meeting on 20^th July 2021:

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that the draft Housing Strategy 2021 – 2025, attached at annex 1, be approved for external and public consultation.

The Committee had before it the *Housing Strategy Consultation Draft presented by Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing who gave an overview of the Strategy.

The Officer explained that the Consultation Draft had previously been presented to the Homes PDG where it had been well received.

He explained that homes were a basic necessity and a fundamental requirement for everybody and the Strategy would enable the facilitation of new housing within the district. The project team were taking a multi disciplinary approach to include a wide range of internal stakeholders and contributors.

The Strategy set out the 5 year vision to meet the housing needs and aspirations by offering new homes and adapting existing stock.

He explained the 4 key priorities of the Strategy which contained 40 specific objectives and specific targets and a delivery group would be formed to test progress against delivery.

Consideration was given to:

·         Consultation would be tailored to the consultees but would include current tenants, DCC, CHAT and existing partners

·         The views of some Members that the housing targets were not ambitious enough

·         The views of some Members that there was a lack of clarity on the housing mix and sight of costed plans

·         That the housing needs would be continually reassessed as more data became available such as the 2021 Census

·         The Strategy was realistic on the numbers of units which could be delivered and was the baseline and not the final numbers

·         The Authority was required to pay market value for properties which it previously owned and had been sold to tenants at a discounted price under the Governments Right to Buy scheme

·         Members views that the strategy should make reference to the Devon Carbon Plan

·         The correct term was Net Zero Carbon and the Strategy should reflect this

·         The Standard for Decent Homes had not changed

It was therefore RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that: the strategy be approved subject to:

o   Net Zero Carbon terminology be consistent throughout the strategy

o   The Project Board to only reference job titles and not named individuals

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Reason for the decision: To ensure the Council can progress to the next key consultation stage leading to the adoption of the Strategy

Note: *Housing Strategy Consultation Draft previously circulated and attached to the minutes

To receive a report from the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing providing members of the Policy Development Group with an opportunity to review the proposed consultation draft of the revised corporate Housing Strategy.

The Group had before it a report * from the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing providing Members with an opportunity to review the proposed consultation draft of the revised corporate Housing Strategy.

The contents of the report were outlined with the following being highlighted:

·         It wasn’t a legal requirement to have a Housing Strategy in place but it was a really important document. Homes were a basic necessity and a fundamental requirement for everybody. Local authorities had a broad role to play in supporting and regulating the housing sector, this forward looking document provided a framework to enable this to happen. It involved key facets such as public health and the opportunity to attract and retain a skilled work force within Mid Devon.

·         The proposed Strategy very much linked with other key council policies such as the Local Plan.

·         The following ‘HOME’ priorities were proposed within the Strategy document:

o   Housing - increase delivery of quality designed, well-built homes across the housing market to meet identified needs

o   Optimise - fit for purpose healthy, sustainable, adaptable homes optimised for high energy efficiency and low carbon impact

o   Making the most - making the most of our existing homes across the private and public sector in all forms of tenure

o   Engage - engaging and working with others including partner organisations to deliver our aims

·         A key thread within the document was the Council’s commitment to climate change and the reduction of carbon.

·         The Group’s attention was drawn to Objectives 5 and 6 annexed to the report which highlighted the aim of seeking to retain a viable Council Housing stock baseline through full use of available Right to Buy receipts and growing the number of Council houses further through other mechanisms

Discussion took place regarding:

·         The proposed strategy represented a step change in approach and a joined up approach with the Planning department and the Local Plan. The Group congratulated the officers in drawing up what was referred to as an ‘excellent piece of work’.

·         Concerns regarding a perceived lack of ambition regarding the numbers of new Council houses proposed to be built.

·         Figures quoted within the report represented a baseline or a minimum in terms of aspiration. Numbers of houses had had to be included in terms of what was realistically deliverable and achievable. The Strategy had to start somewhere.

·         The need to explore all available avenues to building to new homes including the recently advertised modular homes.

·         The time table at section 3.2 within the report was confirmed as correct.

The Group NOTED the proposed timeline and stages for adoption of the Housing Strategy.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that the draft Housing Strategy 2021 – 2025, attached at annex 1, be approved for external and public consultation.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Reason for the decision

The reason for the decision is to ensure the Council can progress to the next key consultation stage leading to the adoption of the Strategy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16