Issue - meetings

To receive a briefing on the Housing Strategy to offer comments before it is presented to Cabinet for approval.

The Committee received a briefing on the proposed Housing Strategy to allow it to offer comments before it was presented to the Cabinet for approval. The Head of Planning and Housing gave a presentation to the Committee to outline the content of the Strategy document. The presentation covered the importance of housing, the key challenges and the five housing strategy priorities.

Members of the Committee asked questions and made comments about the Housing Strategy document. The points made included:

·         There were a lot of aspirations in the strategy document but no mention of the resources that would be required to deliver on the priorities of the Strategy or targets for delivery that could be used to measure and scrutinise performance. The Committee accept the priorities but should be able to measure progress towards achievement of priorities as a Scrutiny Committee.   

·         There should have been a scheme in place to offer incentives to elderly and vulnerable people to downsize homes in order to free up larger homes for families.         

·         There was a lot of support for elderly and vulnerable people in social housing but there should also be support for elderly and vulnerable people in private sector housing and those who own their homes. 

·         It may be difficult to deliver affordable housing during the poor economic climate due to people being unable to afford deposits for houses and obtain mortgages. The Council should help residents with finances and provide resources to increase the supply of affordable housing.   

·         The five priorities were not weighted and were seen as equally important however the scope of some was larger than others. Limited resources meant it would be hard to deliver everything but the Council would endeavour to deliver on all of the priorities.

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the Committee endorse the adoption of a Housing Strategy.

(b)  That the Committee recommend the following amendments be made to the Housing Strategy document:

i.      That greater recognition be given to renewable energy in the strategy document.

ii.    That the wording of the “Meet the housing needs for a changing population” section needs to be strengthened to explain plans for downsizing older residents to smaller properties which should also include offering incentive schemes.

iii.   That there be greater recognition of all tenures and not just social housing, especially for those just above the benefits threshold.

iv.   That the strategy document include boosting support for elderly people with empty properties who wish to sell the property or, equally, rent it out.

v.    That figures referring to the Crewe population be clarified.

vi.   That the strategy makes specific reference to and takes account of the Council’s duty to support and care for 16+ care leavers, for whom the Council are Corporate parents.

vii. That the strategy include measures and targets for progress so that performance can be measured and scrutinised.