Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods presented the recommendation, which was referred to in the Executive report of 28 September 2021, regarding the Tenancy Strategy.

He said that each local authority was required to produce and review a Tenancy Strategy under the Localism Act. The Act was clear about what the strategy should cover and the Tenancy Strategy provided detail on what kind of tenancies should be offered as well as giving guidance on rent levels the council would like to see. The Tenancy Strategy was not concerned with affordable housing supply as this was the remit of the District Plan and the Housing Strategy.

East Herts’ planning policies have meant there has been a 10.2% increase in the number of affordable homes in the ten years to 2020, compared to 2.9% across Hertfordshire and 3.4% across England in the same period. The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Councillor Boylan, stressed that the Tenancy Strategy was only guidance but Registered Providers had been consulted and it was pleasing to see they were predominantly offering lifetime tenancies. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the strategy and whilst Members expressed disappointment that the council could not set rent levels, they endorsed the aspirations of the strategy.

Councillor Boylan proposed that the recommendation in the Executive report be supported. Councillor Wyllie seconded the proposal.

Councillor Goldspink said that the Liberal Democrat Group reluctantly accepted and supported the recommendation. She thanked Officers for their hard work in drafting the strategy under the restrictive limits imposed by the government. She said that East Herts had only built two houses for social rent in the last two years and Local Housing Allowances set by central government meant that local councillors do not have a say. She said that she was ashamed and angry as the council had failed to provide residents with homes. The Strategy has aspirations but it cannot be enforced. She hoped the Executive Member and the council would lobby the government to change the rules at every opportunity.

Councillor Redfern said that she agreed with Councillor Goldspink and asked if East Herts helped residents who failed affordability tests if they could not afford social rent.

Councillor E Buckmaster said that he was puzzled by Councillor Goldspink’s comments. He said that Councillor Boylan had demonstrated earlier in the meeting how well East Herts compared in Hertfordshire and nationally on the number of affordable homes built. He said that the Council were doing what it could within its District Plan and said the criticism was unjustified.

Councillor Wilson also thanked Officers for the strategy. He said that he was surprised that the Executive were pleased with the planning policies and the number of affordable homes. He asked whether an increase in homelessness and people in temporary accommodation was a positive outcome. He said that the council had struggled to provide affordable homes after selling their housing stock to housing associations. He referred to the Greater London Authority as its Local Plan ensures that developers provide affordable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 205

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods presented a report on the draft Tenancy Strategy 2021-26. He explained that each Local Authority responsible for housing is required under the Localism Act to produce and review a tenancy strategy. The Act was clear about what the strategy should cover and the Tenancy Strategy provided detail on what kind of tenancies should be offered as well as giving guidance on rent levels the council would like to see. There was an emphasis on social rather than affordable rents. The Tenancy Strategy was not concerned with affordable housing supply as this was the remit of the District Plan and the Housing Strategy which would be on the agenda for the November meeting. East Herts’ planning policies have meant there has been a 10.2% increase in the number of affordable homes in the ten years to 2020, compared to 2.9% across Hertfordshire and 3.4% across England in the same period. Councillor Boylan stressed that the Tenancy Strategy was only guidance but Registered Providers had been consulted and it was pleasing to see they were predominantly offering lifetime tenancies. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the strategy and whilst Members expressed disappointment that the council could not set rent levels, they endorsed the aspirations of the strategy.

Councillor Goodeve said it was pleasing to hear that the planning policies were delivering positive outcomes.

Councillor Haysey said that it was important to express what the council could and could not do within the Tenancy Strategy. The council cannot enforce but can encourage.

Councillor Boylan proposed and Councillor Goodeve seconded a motion supporting the recommendation in the report. On being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED - to recommend to Council the adoption of the East Herts Tenancy Strategy for 2021-2026.

The Head of Housing and Health, on behalf of the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, submitted a report that covered the East Herts Tenancy Strategy for 2021 to 2026.

The Head of Housing and Health said that under the Localism Act 2011 having a Tenancy Strategy was a statutory requirement for any local authority that was also a housing authority. He said that the strategy document would focus the views and guidance of the authority in terms of the types of tenancies that it would like to see on offer in East Herts. Members were advised that the document would also focus on rent levels, given the tie in between rent levels and the tenancy types that were on offer.

The Housing Development and Strategy Manager said that the Tenancy Strategy document took the form of guidance in that it did not legally compel registered providers to adopt certain types of tenancies or rent levels in East Herts.

Members were advised that the document laid out what the Council expected from registered providers. The Committee was also advised that the sharing of information served to inform registered providers on the level of housing need within the District.

The Housing Development and Strategy Manager said that recent housing research had been incorporated into the Tenancy Strategy and it was expected that rent levels set by registered providers were at the lower end of 50% to 80% of market value. Members were also advised that it was expected the length of tenancies should be for as long as possible and for a minimum of 5 years, with very few registered providers setting  fixed term tenancies, and the majority now setting life-time tenancies.

The Committee was advised that the Council worked with registered provider partners via the East Herts Housing Forum and the strategy document had been presented to them at a meeting on the 29June 2021. There had been very positive feedback from Members of the Forum.

The Housing Development and Strategy Manager said that the Tenancy Strategy was part of a suite of housing related strategies that were currently being drafted. The much broader full Housing Strategy for 2021 to 2026 was currently out for public consultation and was scheduled to be presented to Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the meeting on 2 November 2021. Members were also advised that the Homelessness Strategy and accompanying action plan would also be reviewed to bring this up to date in light of changing housing needs in East Hertfordshire.

Councillor Hollebon asked the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods to provide a comparison of housing numbers within East Hertfordshire District Council, past and present. She expressed concerns about the difficulties being experienced by the younger population in terms of getting onto the housing ladder. Councillor Hollebon also commented on the particular difficulties being experienced by single people when being considered for housing.

The Head of Housing and Health said that the Tenancy Strategy was not the document that dealt with supply. He referred to the District  ...  view the full minutes text for item 134