Agenda item

The committee is requested to consider and comment on progress made in delivering the council’s Housing Strategy for the period 2013-2018 as set out in the Housing Strategy Delivery Plan at Appendix 1. The committee is also requested to note that a new Housing Strategy will be developed as set out in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of the report.

The committee considered the report included with the agenda. Mrs L Grange, Divisional Manager for Housing Services, presented the report.

The committee made the following comments and received answers to questions as follows:

·         Funding received from Government by Community Land Trusts (CLTs) would normally be spent in the latter stages of the project when planning permission, development costs, land purchase etc. takes place. There were three CLTs in the process of drawing down grant with more expected later this year.

·         There was no mention of the South Downs National Park (SDNP) in the initiatives listed in the Housing Strategy Delivery Plan. Officers take every opportunity to work with the SDNP and to influence their policies and talks take place between the appropriate planning officers involved at an early stage on individual sites.

·         Downsizing. Queried developing a policy to provide subsidy to encourage downsizing or the council supporting families to allow downsizing to take place. A pilot scheme was run with Hyde but with few outcomes. The current Allocations Scheme promotes downsizing however there is no financial incentive on offer. This will be considered as part of the new strategy.

·         Requested a monthly register with number of homes permitted to be developed in the district, locations, land owners and date consent granted, house types and size.

·         Requested breakdown of number of affordable homes delivered in and out of the SDNP over the housing strategy period. [Post meeting note: This update has been provided and is attached to these minutes.]

·         Report on the number of affordable housing units permitted but yet to be developed. To be included as we currently report these figures to Government.

·         Update on affordability with average salary in the district and relation to need. This will be undertaken as part of the development of the new Housing Strategy.

·         Parking issues in rural villages; this is considered when developing new rural affordable properties.

·         The numbers of houses to be built by CLTs will generally be between 6-20 homes.  The council has no dedicated resources to deal with home owners of empty properties to bring these back into use. Grants are available to encourage more effective use and CDC will take on the management of empty homes through HomeFinder. Enforcement action can be taken where appropriate for environmental problems. The numbers of empty homes in the district are not accurately known as there is no incentive for house owners to contact the council as council tax discount no longer applies. Could we consider the council tax paid on empty homes in order to resource initiatives to bring them back onto the market?

·         The main source of affordable housing delivery is quotas from market sites then by additional properties such as Hyde’s garage sites where the council helps fund by making commuted sums received in lieu of affordable housing available to registered providers through grant. The council does not generally have land available but will work with registered providers including Hyde to provide additional properties on top of market quota or properties delivered through community led housing groups.

·         Affordable housing covers both affordable rent and intermediate housing; these are Government products delivered by housing providers. Affordable rent is set at 80% of market rent. Housing providers are lobbying Government about these products and it is hoped that as from 2020 there will be different products available. Hyde would like to introduce a living rent linked to salaries. A number of Hyde’s tenants are existing social rents at around 55% of market rents with service charge payable on top (80% affordable rents include service charges). 

·         Gypsies and travelling showpeople site allocation timetable. This is set out in the Revised Local Development Scheme 2018-2021 approved by Cabinet on 9 January. (Post meeting note:Gypsies & Travellers Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) site allocation Development Plan Document put on hold – see report to cabinet 3 November 2015. Work started on new West Sussex coastal authorities GTAA Autumn 2017. GTAA due to be completed and will inform next steps April 2018)

·         Accommodation for young people at the Foyer. The council is working with WSCC to consider what could be put in place in the future. There are a number local groups interested in working with young people.

·         Equity loans scheme. There was no take-up of these loans. This will be revisited to compare the advantages of that scheme with existing Government schemes.

Mrs Grange confirmed that she had noted all comments and suggestions made by members for inclusion in the new strategy to be developed in the summer. The new overarching strategy would review all the various existing strategies, consider what was going on nationally, review affordability issues in the district and would be streamlined with all housing priorities in one place. The committee would be consulted prior to Cabinet making this decision. Mrs Kilby, the Cabinet Member for Housing Services, also confirmed that she had taken on board the points raised by the committee.

RESOLVED

1.   That progress made in delivering the council’s Housing Strategy for the period 2013-2018, as set out in the Housing Strategy Delivery Plan at appendix 1 of the report, be noted.

2.   That it be noted that a new Housing Strategy would be developed as set out in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.2 of the report taking into account the comments and suggestions made by this committee.