Issue - items at meetings - Housing Strategy 2009-2014: Healthy Homes, Healthy Lives, Healthy city

Report of the Director of Adult Social Care & Housing (copy attached).

(1)         That Cabinet approves the Housing Strategy 2009-2014: healthy homes, healthy lives, healthy city and related sub-strategies, the Older People’s Housing Strategy 2009-2014 and the LGBT People’s Housing Strategy 2009-2014 and Student Housing Strategy 2009-2014.

(2)         That Cabinet recognises the extensive good practice and stakeholder engagement demonstrated during the development of these strategies.

(3)         That Cabinet agrees that minor changes may be required and made to these strategies during their approval process to ensure they reflect the latest national and local strategic context, with significant changes requiring approval from the Director of Adult Social Care & Housing.

114.1                The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Adult Social Care & Housing summarising the development of the city’s new Housing Strategy and specialist housing strategies relating to Older People, the city’s LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans) communities and Student Housing and seeking their approval (for copy see minute book).

114.2                In response to questions from Councillor Mitchell, Councillor Caulfield made the following comments:

§         While the primary purpose of the Local Delivery Vehicle (LDV) was to meet the Decent Homes Standard, tenants wanted the opportunity to be able to increase the Council’s housing stock, though this remained a long-term goal.

§         The Cabinet was keen to extend the social rented sector and were campaigning for the government to give local authorities the freedom to do this; a bid had been submitted to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) for a potential development of new council housing

§         The Cabinet acknowledged the need to meet the Decent Homes Standard, but the Brighton & Hove Tenants Standard was equally important; the three-year repairs programme being considered at the next round of area panels

114.3                Councillor Randall declared a personal, but non-prejudicial interest as he was a member of the management board of the LDV.

114.4                Councillor Randall commended the Strategy and echoed the aspirations of tenants to use the LDV to increase the Council’s housing stock in the long term. He requested that the Cabinet consider including a separate family housing strategy as part of the overall Housing Strategy.

114.5                The Chairman stated that she fully understood the problems faced by families trying to settle in the city and explained that the Cabinet’s approach was reflected in the Core Strategy.

114.6                Councillor Caulfield added that the Council was actively encouraging landlords to rent to families, but noted that a gap existed in the private sector market; she added that a family housing strategy could be considered when the Housing Strategy was reviewed.

114.7                RESOLVED - That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet accepted the following recommendations:

(1)         That the Housing Strategy 2009-2014: healthy homes, healthy lives, healthy city and related sub-strategies, the Older People’s Housing Strategy 2009-2014 and the LGBT People’s Housing Strategy 2009-2014 and Student Housing Strategy 2009-2014 be approved.

(2)         That the extensive good practice and stakeholder engagement demonstrated during the development of these strategies be recognised.

(3)         That it be agreed that minor changes may be required and made to these strategies during their approval process to ensure they reflect the latest national and local strategic context, with significant changes requiring approval from the Director of Adult Social Care & Housing.