Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing submitted a report setting out the progress made in 2016/17 in delivering the objectives stemming from the Housing and Health Strategy Action Plan 2016 – 2021 and future ways of achieving the objectives going forward.  The Housing Development and Strategy Manager provided a summary of the report, highlighting the achievements made.

Councillor J Wyllie expressed concern that only 200 new affordable housing units had been delivered through housing associations.  He felt that Planning Officers could do more to secure more affordable units and should adopt a stricter approach at the planning stage.  The Housing Development and Strategy Manager assured Members that in comparison to other districts, 200 was an achievement given the requirement to provide up to 40% on any new development relative to the density.  Councillor J Kaye sought and was provided with clarification on the definition of affordable housing in relation to the elderly and vulnerable (which also included the young) and the types of accommodation which could be offered to them.

Councillor A Alder raised the issue of “downsizing” and whether this related just to tenancies.  The Head of Housing and Health explained that this was being promoted across all tenures but that there was little which could be done in the private sector, although work was ongoing with Hertfordshire County Council.  He provided an update on the “Safe and Well” project. 

Councillor A Alder sought information in relation to the number of houses in multiple occupation and the composition of Accommodation Boards.  The Housing Development and Strategy Manager provided further information on the composition of the boards and the Head of Housing and Health undertook to write to Members with further information on houses in multiple occupation.

Councillor C Woodward referred to the number of empty homes and that bringing more into use would reduce the Council’s liability.  The Head of Housing and Health explained that the figure currently stood at 350 and that the target for bringing in long term problematic properties was 15.  He explained that work was ongoing to categorise different types of properties.

The Committee noted the progress made in 2016/17 in delivering the objectives stemming from the Housing and Health Strategy Action Plan 2016-2021 and asked that Members’ views regarding the adoption of a stricter approach with developers on the issue of affordable housing provision be referred to the Head of Planning and Building Control.

RESOLVED – that (A) the progress made in 2016/17 in delivering the objectives stemming from the Housing and Health Strategy Action Plan 2016-2021, be noted; and

(B)   Members’ views regarding the adoption of a stricter approach with developers on the issue of affordable housing provision be referred to the Head of Planning and Building Control.