Agenda item

To consider a report by the Director of Environment and Housing which provides an overview of the review, production and implementation of the Local Authority’s revised Housing Strategy.

The report also sets out the timeframe, resources, challenges and actions required to revise and develop a new strategy to enable the authority to fulfill its ambition of being the best city and council in the UK.

 

(Report attached)

The Director of Environment and Housing submitted a report which provided an overview of the review, production and implementation of the Local Authority’s revised Housing Strategy.

 

The report also set out the timeframe, resources, challenges and actions required to revise and develop a new strategy to enable the authority to fulfil its ambition of being the best city and Council in the UK

 

Appended to the report was a copy of the Housing Strategy (2014) Outline (Appendix A refers)

 

Rob McCartney, Head of Housing Support, presented the report and responded to Members comments and queries.

 

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report which included:

 

·  The need to undertake relevant research and consultation to identify key themes

·  To acquire an understanding of the housing needs and aspirations of local communities

·  An understanding of demographic projections

·  Potential implications in terms of health and wellbeing, social care, community safety and other needs

·  An awareness of the nature and condition of all housing stock and how it correlates with identified need

 

In offering comment Matthew Walker welcomed the report and suggested the right priorities had been identified.

 

David Glew questioned how relevant research and consultation to identify key themes would be undertaken

 

In responding Rob McCartney suggested this would be achieved using existing resources

 

Mr Glew said Leeds Metropolitan University may be able to offer support in terms of the research element of the strategy

 

Members and Officers welcomed the offer of research support from Leeds Metropolitan University.

 

The Chair said officers would make the necessary approach

 

Councillor Bentley also welcomed the report, in offer comment he said the timescales appeared to be quite ambitious but hoped they would be deliverable. He suggested that the delivery of the strategy needs to be tested.

 

Andy Liptrot suggested that there appeared to be no tenant involvement in the strategy and expressed the view that topics such as Crime and Health were areas where useful contributions could be made. 

Councillor Truswell also welcomed the report suggesting there was a clear idea of the consultation process required and the strategy contained the necessary components.

 

In offering comment, the Director of Environment and Housing referring to the consultation process said it was important that tenants and Community Committees identified priorities which would guide investment; this would also set the direction for future years

 

Referring to Section 3 of the submitted report and the five priority themes:

 

·  Housing Growth

·  Improving Housing Conditions

·  Enabling Independent Living

·  Housing and Health

·  Creating Sustainable Communities

 

The Chair requested Board Members to provide an indication as to which priority theme they would wish to contribute to, and which could involve establishing a Working Group/Groups to oversee development, implementation and production of a strategy.

 

Board Members responded as follows:

 

Housing Growth

 

Matthew Walker

Cllr Barry Anderson

Tim Wood

David Glew

Andrew Feldhaus

Cllr Paul Truswell

 

Housing and Health

 

Matthew Walker

Jo Hourigan

Ted Wilson

Andy Liptrot

Cllr Paul Truswell

 

Enabling Independent Living

 

Tim Wood

David Glew

Madeline Hunter

Cllr Alison Lowe

 

 

 

Improving Housing Conditions

 

Matthew Walker

Cllr Barry Anderson

Jo Hourigan

Andy Liptrot

 

Creating Sustainable Communities

 

Matthew Walker

Cllr Barry Anderson

David Glew

Jo Hourigan

Cllr Jonathan Bentley

Cllr Kamila Maqsood

 

(Chair to be ex-officio on the groups)

 

RESOLVED –

 

(i)  To welcome the offer of support from Leeds Metropolitan University

 

(ii)  To approve the process, timescales and priorities as outlined in Section 3 of the submitted report

 

(iii)  That the Housing Advisory Board to act as a Project Board to oversee the production and future monitoring of the Housing Strategy