Issue - meetings

The committee is requested to consider the review of the Housing Strategy and to support the recommended options for future housing delivery together with capital investment. The committee is asked to note the progress achieved in delivering the milestones and targets in the Housing Strategy delivery plan, to endorse the new target dates and to raise any areas of concern to Cabinet.

The committeeconsidered areport bythe HousingEnabling Manager (copy attachedto theofficial minutes).Mrs Grangeadvised thatthis mid-termreview ofthe Housing Strategytook accountof changesin Governmentpolicy, however the Housing & Planning Bill has yet to be approved by Parliament and detailed regulations are still awaited.She requested thecommittee to:

·         Consider whetherit agreeswith thefindings ofthe strategyreview thatthe existing prioritiesand affordablehousing targetsremain valid

·         Consider whetherit supportsthe proposedallocation of capitalfunds

·         Consider whetherit hasany concernsregarding performanceto date and whetherit supportsthe newtargets andactions setout in italicsin the deliveryplan

The Committeemade the following comments:

·         Requested commenton thePrime Minister’scomments regarding public land releasedfor housebuilding andChichester beingone of thefive national sites.The sitein questionwas thelower Graylingwellsite. TheGovernment was willingto consider50% starterhomes affordableto localpeople and possiblywith localconnections. Theapplication was due tobe reconsidered by aspecial PlanningCommittee on20 January.

·         Questioned priorities2 and3; whetherdownsizing was notworking; sheltered accommodation in Midhurstoutdated anddifficult tolet andwhat new Government emphasiswas onolder peopleand how thismight be helpedin Chi andMidhurst. Mr Dunmallhad workedwith Hydeand run anumber of workshopson downsizing.Those wishingto downsize weregiven priority on housingregister, howeverit appearedthat theywere particularabout properties theywanted tomove to.It wasdifficult toencourage thisunless providers offeran incentiveto move.Mrs Grangeadvised that weare in discussionwith regardto two out-dated sheltered schemes,but potentiallya totalredevelopment of thearea is required andregistered providers are generally not considering  redevelopments at the current time dueto lackof available funding. A newPlanning Policy was introduced in 2015 which requires LocalPlanning Authorities to considerthe housing needsof olderpeople.

·         Are therefurther cutbacks inthe pipelineto providingservices versus underwritinghousing asthe risingcost ofhousing willbecome agreater issue? Thecapital reflectedin thereport ismoney alreadyin place and includes commutedsums fromS106 agreements.The lowerpart of table sets out proposed changes to the use of these capital funds.  The strategymoney is safe andisn't threatenedby anythingelse theCouncil maywant touse it for. The only funds not yet secured are the receipts expected from Church Rd.

·         How manytenants haveused theright tobuy (RTB)scheme and is thisa problem iftoo manyproperties havesold? Arelandowners notkeen on releasing landbecause ofthis? Prior to2013 RTBnumbers droppedoff to 2-3 sales per annum but they haveincreased sincethe Government revitalisedthis scheme (13/14 -15 RTB sales, 14/15 – 9 RTB sales. It is expected that property  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41