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)
Minutes:
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
Supporting documents: