Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods presented a report on the Housing Strategy 2022 – 2027. He said that the strategy was a culmination of a considerable amount of work over the last 18 months. There was no statutory requirement to produce a strategy and the extent and range of housing pressures had made it imperative to set new priorities.

Councillor Boylan said that the development of the strategy was overseen by a cross party working member group who met three times to shape emerging themes. Once approved by Council, detailed action plans would be developed and reviewed regularly. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee gave detailed consideration of the strategy and Appendix A listed their comments.

The Leader of the Council thanked the team for their work on the detailed strategy with evidence based conclusions.

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

RESOLVED – That (A) the comments put forward by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, listed in Appendix A, be considered and endorse the resulting amendments proposed by the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods as also detailed in Appendix A;

(B)         the draft East Herts Housing Strategy for 2022 to 2027, as amended by Recommendation (A) be endorsed, and recommended to Council for approval.

(C)         the authority to (i) determine action plans to deliver the objectives in the Housing Strategy, pending its approval by Council, and (ii) authorise periodic progress reports be delegated to the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, acting in consultation with the Head of Housing and Health.

The Head of Housing and Health submitted a report on the draft East Herts Housing Strategy 2022 – 2027. Members were advised that the current East Herts Council Housing Strategy for 2016 to 2021 now required replacement and new Strategy for 2022 to 2027 had been drafted to respond to new legislation, changing market conditions and evolving trends in housing need.

The Head of Housing and Health said that it was not statutory requirement for a local authority to have a housing strategy, but there were a number of benefits of having a housing strategy. These benefits include allowing oversights of the need for affordable housing development, housing demand among people with special needs, and the measures which could be undertaken to improve housing standards and sustainability.

The Head of Housing of Health referred to the four strategic priorities of the housing strategy within the report, as well as the set of objectives associated with each strategic priority. He highlighted a number of key issues including increasing the supply of new homes at the lower end of affordable rent spectrum, the need to focus on housing need in rural communities, and working with partners to tackle issues such as housing support for rough sleepers.

Councillor Goldspink asked if the Executive Member had investigated the statement from the Local Government Association (LGA) in relation to seeking more funding to provide additional homes for social rent, as there was insufficient affordable housing for social rent in this area.

The Head of Housing and Health said that the Housing Strategy recognised the need to increase all forms of affordable housing, including homes for social rent. He said that this matter had been identified as a strategic priority within the strategy and a detailed set of actions would be prepared in due course, as outlined in the report.

The Head of Housing and Health said that the LGA had promoted the case for more funding to be made available to Homes England to support affordable housing development. Members were advised that all forms of funding were being explored and at present, almost all affordable housing developments in East Herts were funded though planning agreements. The Homes England grant for affordable housing was not available in these circumstances, as the subsidy was provided by the private developer.

Councillor Goldspink asked if the Council could provide some pre-fabricated housing units, sometimes referred to as pods, for homeless people. Other Councils had provided low cost separate individual units of this kind for homeless people. The Head of Housing and Health said that the Council was always open to considering methods for increasing accommodation for homeless households. An additional 17 self-contained units had been acquired and provided in East Herts during the past 12 months, with a further two self-contained temporary accommodation units were being developed in Ware.

The Head of Housing and Health said that homeless households often required packages of care and support, and homeless people needed to feel part of the wider society.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 288