Issue - meetings

Minute 280 refers

Councillor M Newman referred to the map within the Strategy and asked the Executive Member for Health, Housing and Community Support whether she acknowledged his concern that it inferred major housing development in the area north of Harlow.  In reply, the Executive Member undertook to clarify this with Officers.

The Executive Member for Health, Housing and Community Support referred to the Leader’s earlier comments regarding the need to look at potential economic development initiatives and to this end, proposed an additional recommendation, which was seconded by Councillor A Jackson, as follows:

“Officers be asked to submit a report to the Executive meeting on 6 November 2012, giving options which facilitate growth in house building, whilst being mindful of the Council’s priority to provide affordable housing and the importance of stimulating economic growth.”

After being put to the meeting, this additional recommendation was agreed.

RESOLVED – that (A) the comments of the Community Scrutiny Committee be received;

(B)      the Housing Strategy 2012 - 15 be adopted;

(C)      an annual report to monitor progress of the action plan be submitted to Community Scrutiny Committee; and

(D)      Officers be asked to submit a report to the Executive meeting on 6 November 2012, giving options which facilitate growth in house building, whilst being mindful of the Council’s priority to provide affordable housing and the importance of stimulating economic growth.

(see also Minute 333 above)

The Executive Member for Health, Housing and Community Support submitted a draft of the Council’s new Housing Strategy 2012 -15 and associated action plan.  She stated that the intention of the Plan was to be as flexible as possible and so it would be reviewed annually.

The Community Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting held on 28 August 2012, supported the Strategy and action plan subject to a strengthened statement regarding the Armed Forces Covenant.  The Executive Member for Health, Housing and Community Support commented that the forthcoming review of the Allocations Policy would look at how this group and others could be dealt with.

The Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport commented on the need for the final document to be made available in hard copy for those members of the community without access to the internet.  In reply, the Leader stated that as this comment applied to other documents, he would be raising this general issue with Officers.

In response to a question from Councillor J Ranger, the Executive Member for Finance confirmed that the Local Authority Mortgage Scheme had commenced, but that take up, to date, had been weaker than expected.

The Executive Member for Finance referred to the affordable housing figures and expressed concern that the Authority appeared to be failing its stated objective.  Given the continuing economic difficulties, he questioned whether a greater number of affordable housing units could be achieved by actually lowering the 40% threshold.  He was also unclear as to whether the economic development challenge had been sufficiently addressed.  He suggested deferring the report and reviewing the policy on the affordable housing threshold.

The Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport referred to the ongoing work in drafting the District Plan in which the continued provision of an affordable housing threshold on development sites would have to be evidenced as obtainable.  He reminded the Executive that the current policy was “up to 40%”.

Various Members spoke against the Executive Member for Finance’s suggestion on the basis that the current policy enabled the Development Control Committee some flexibility to exercise discretion on a case by case basis.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services advised Members that the affordable housing policy was set as part of the Local Plan and that the Housing Strategy sought to reflect that policy.

On a show of hands, the Executive supported the draft Housing Strategy 2012 – 15, as now submitted, by four votes to one.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the comments of the Community Scrutiny Committee be received;

(B)      the Housing Strategy 2012 - 15 be adopted; and

(C)      an annual report to monitor progress of the action plan  be submitted to Community Scrutiny Committee.

The Executive Member for Health, Housing and Community Support Community submitted a report setting out the action plan for the Council’s new Housing Strategy for 2012/15, the detail of which was set out in the report now submitted.  The Housing Services Manager referred Members to Essential Reference Paper “B” of the report now submitted, which set out the three key responsibilities for Housing Associations in relation to the Housing Strategy.

Councillor C Woodward referred to Objective 3 (Meeting the needs of vulnerable people and stronger communities) and suggested that the Council needed to impart a stronger emphasis on this issue, particularly in relation to the needs of the Armed Forces.  The Housing Services Manager stated that the Council was aware of the needs of Armed Forces personnel and was doing all it could.  Officers would continue to use their discretion in this capacity.  She explained that without the force of legislation, the Council’s role was limited.

Councillor G McAndrew empathised with personnel who left the force and were suddenly faced with the need to find a home, a job, doctors and schools.  He stated that anything the Council could do to make things easier for Armed Forces personnel should be done.  The Housing Services Manager added that the Forces’ own housing advice was very good.

The Committee supported the Housing Strategy 2012/15 and Action Plan and requested that the Executive be asked to support the Action Plan alongside the main Housing Strategy document.  Members also agreed that they be provided with an Annual Report on the progress of the Action Plan each September, or on whatever date was considered most expeditious.

RESOLVED – that (A) the Housing Strategy 2012/15 and Action Plan be supported together with Members’ comments and the Executive be asked to support the Action Plan alongside the main Housing Strategy document; and

(B)       Community Scrutiny Committee be provided with an Annual Report on the progress of the Action Plan each September, or on whatever date was considered to be most expeditious.