Agenda item

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 owned by a Community Land Trusts(CLTs) willbe exemptfrom RTB.One way ofmoving forwardwill be ifthe Trustscan workwith registeredproviders todevelop affordable housingfor them.

·         The figureof £2m– doesthis meanthe Councilwould build houses? The moneyis fromwhen wetransferred ourproperties toHyde Martlet in2001 and isallocated forhousing. Weare notproposing thatthe Council builds houseshowever themoney is ringfenced forhousing. One member stated thatthe Councilshould considerraising bondsto helpbuilding houses.

·         Will theCouncil adoptthe optionalspace standardsbrought inthis year?If the Council wishto adoptthis wehave toshow inreviewing the LocalPlan that thereis both aneed toadopt higher space standards and that they will be financially viable for developers.

·         Have westarted ona brownfieldregister yetor alreadythere? Estatesmay be dealingwith thisbut notus.

·         Had theCouncil considereddeveloping caravanparks as othercountries have donewith trailerparks tohelp withhousing situation?We have problemswith thesites withregard tooccupation for onlyeight months ofthe year, thecold andissues suchas qualityof stock.There are noplans to extendthis useat present.

·         There isa potentialsite inWest Witteringfor aCLT –is thisbeing progressed? Wewill beattending anational CLTconference next monthand meeting withAction inRural Sussex,the umbrellaCLT forthe area later this week. We intendto writeout toparish councilsto talkto themwhere they are interested indeveloping CLTs.

·         Is theshortage ofavailable housingdriving uprents? Arethe add-on charges ofCIL drivingup costsof allhousing? Itis certainlymaking itmore difficultfor us.In areasof highland valueand lowsalaries it isfar more difficult.

RESOLVED

1.         That theHousing StrategyReview benoted.

2.         That theprogress achievedin deliveringthe milestonesand targets inthe Housing StrategyDelivery Planbe notedand thenew target datesbe endorsed.