Agenda item

Report No: OAS/FH/18/029

[Councillors Chris Barker and Rona Burt arrived at 6.07pm during the consideration of this item].

The Leader of the Council, Councillor James Waters provided Report No: OAS/FH/18/029, which presented the West Suffolk’s draft Housing Strategy (Appendix 1) and draft Tenancy Strategy (Appendix 2). 

A review of the Housing Strategywas due in 2018.  By adopting a new strategy the Councils would be aligning its priorities with the Strategic Framework 2018-2020 and responding to new legislation and additional duties.  Attached to the report were a number of appendices relating to the Housing Strategy which provided additional information:

-           Appendix A:  Was an illustrative summary of the types of housing available as well as the councils role in supporting the delivery and availability of each of these options.

-           Appendix B: Sets out data relating to West Suffolk’s population and housing that had supported the development of the strategy.

-           Appendix C: The implementation plan would identify the main tasks needed to increase and improve the provision of appropriate housing over the next five years.  The plan was being developed during the consultation period and would be finalised once the consultation had concluded.

-           Appendix D: provided an overview of the Equality Impact Assessment.  No negative impacts as a result of the strategy had  been identified.

The strategy had been informed by an engagement exercise that included Councillor workshops and a consultation event with key partners.  The formal consultation was taking place for a six week period between 9 October and 20 November 2018 and involved an online survey that was available on the councils webpages.

As at 5 November 2018, 21 responses had been received and there was strong support for the priorities and actions set out in the strategy and for the issues that the council was addressing.  Specific comments had been received that relate to affordable housing, the need for appropriate housing for specific groups and the importance of infrastructure and transport to support the needs of individuals and communities.

A review of the Tenancy Strategywas also due in 2018.  The Localism Act 2011 required local authorities to produce a Tenancy Strategy that outlines how councils and registered providers approached issues which affected tenants living in the area. 

Informal discussions had taken place with registered providers operating in West Suffolk about the proposed changes.  As with the Housing Strategy, the formal consultation was taking place for a six week period between 9 October and 20 November 2018 and involved an online survey that was available on the councils webpages.

As at 5 November 2018, two responses had been received which would help the council continue to develop how it worked with registered providers and assist tenants living in West Suffolk.

The Housing Strategyand Tenancy Strategy, together with any feedback or comments from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, would be considered by the Joint Executive (Cabinet) Committee on 11 December 2018.

The Committee considered the report and the attached appendices in detail and asked a number of questions, to which comprehensive responses were provided.  In particular discussions were held on rough sleepers/homelessness; specialist housing providers and securing suitable provision; and bringing empty homes back into use (privately owned and registered providers).

In response to a question raised, members were informed that it was not in the interest of registered providers to leave properties empty.  Where a registered provider had empty homes, these were on a rolling work programme to bring them back into use.

In response to a question raised regarding whether the council knew where rough sleepers were coming from, members were informed that the Housing Forum met on a weekly basis to discuss all of those who were rough sleepers.  The Housing Forum was able to monitor if there was any migration from outside of the area, which it had not seen any evidence of.

During the meeting, the Committee did not suggest any amendments to be made to the draft West Suffolk Housing Strategy or the draft West Suffolk Tenancy Strategy.

Councillor Rona Burt then moved the recommendations, this was duly seconded by Councillor Nigel Roman, and with the vote being unanimous, it was:

          RECOMMENDED: 

That Draft West Suffolk Housing Strategy and the Draft West Suffolk Tenancy Strategy, attached as Appendix 1 and 2 to Report No: OAS/FH/18/029, be approved by Joint Executive (Cabinet) on 11 December 2018 and Council on 18 December 2018, where appropriate.