Issue - meetings

(Report of the Executive Director, Communities)

The Chair welcomed the executive Director, Communities, Mr Rob Barnes, the Assistant Director Partnerships, Ms Jo Sands and the Strategic Housing Manager, Ms Sue Phipps to the meeting to present the Draft Housing Strategy report.

The Assistant Director Partnerships introduced the report which attached the draft Housing Strategy for this committee’s consideration prior to submission to Cabinet.  It was reported that whilst there was no statutory duty to produce a Housing Strategy, doing so would inform the Council’s role in increasing housing supply, place shaping and promoting the role of housing in the creation of safe, thriving and sustainable communities and supporting economic growth.  The Assistant Director highlighted the key priorities.

The Committee sought and received clarification in the following areas:

·       Whether a more meaningful definition of affordable homes could be established.  It was reported that this was part of planning process and would require the involvement of that team.

·       Whether there were any actions which could be taken to close the gap between targeted housing completions and the delivery.  It was reported that there were activities ongoing in many areas to support delivery including acquiring new stock and attracting developers and providers into the Borough, and that the Council was using the tools available to it to close the gap.

·       Whether the action plan list of four wards for targeted support reflected all relevant wards, given that the evidence base demonstrated there were additional wards with high levels of need, including Glascote and Stonydelph. 

Councillor D Box left the meeting at 8.15pm.

The Committee resolved that

1. it recommend to Cabinet that the Contents and proposed actions contained within the draft Housing Strategy be endorsed and could go on to become the final strategy with the amendment that Stonydelph and Glascote are included as areas where funding/support should be focussed as they contain areas which have historically had high deprivation; and

(Moved by Councillor by Councillor Richard Ford and seconded by Councillor Sheree Peaple)

2. The completed Housing Strategy be taken to Cabinet for approval.

(Moved by Councillor Richard Ford and seconded by Councillor Roy Rogers)

Resolved that the meeting be extended beyond 8.30pm following a motion under schedule 1 Rule 9.1.13 of the Constitution.

(Moved by Councillor R Ford and seconded by Councillor S Peaple)