Agenda item

To consider a report by the Director of Environment and Housing which seeks the views of the Board on the draft Leeds Housing Strategy and, if appropriate, to approve the Strategy subject to any changes required.

(Report attached)

The Director of Environment and Housing submitted a report which sought the views of the Board on the draft Leeds Housing Strategy.

Simon Costigan, Chief Officer, Strategic Housing, Environments and Housing, presented the report.  In provided background information it was reported that the Housing Strategy was one of Leeds key strategic plans, enabling the Council and its partners to form a clear understanding of the City’s significant housing challenges and identify innovative solutions to meet the needs and aspirations of its communities.

It was explained that the draft Strategy was framed around five key themes: Affordable Housing Growth, Improving Housing Quality, Promoting Independent Living, Improving Health through Housing and Creating Sustainable Communities. Each theme containing a number of priorities reflecting the key housing related priority areas for the city

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

• The delivery of 70,000 new homes by 2018
• Initial annual target of 3,600 (1,100 to be affordable)
• The five key themes

In offering comment, David Glew said there was some useful detail but overall he was disappointed with the contents. He suggested the document looked dated, the strategy could be more aspirational, more detail was required in some of the key sections, further consideration should be given to establishing more links to the various topics and better use of graphics was required. 

David Atkinson said there was absence of a carers strategy and suggested the development of such a strategy with a possible link to new lettings.

Andrew Feldhaus echoed the comments of other Members in that the strategy lacked aspiration and also suggested that the themes should not be viewed in isolation.

Tim Wood stressed the importance to challenge targets and be more aspirational

Referring Section 5.2 of the report David Glew questioned the accuracy of the information “There may be a need to create around 40 new Primary Schools and 6 New Secondary Schools” – Was this correct?, more site allocations could be added which could affect these numbers.

In offering comment the Chair said checking and cross reference was essential but accepted situations may change over time and the strategy could be out of date by the time of publication, he said there was a need for a living document.

Matthew Walker said it was difficult to meet all needs; the draft strategy was a “best fit” document and could not be everything to everybody.

Jo Hourigan said the Sub Group had made some innovative suggestions but these had not been included. It was important to “think outside the box”, be bold in order to sell the document, otherwise opportunities would be missed.

Councillor Bentley said it was a good report but it should not be the final submission. In commenting on the content he suggested the themes were good but more connections were required: Homes/Health/ Insulation for example.

Commenting on Affordable Housing Growth, paragraph 3.5 Councillor Truswell suggested more substantive targets were required.

David Glew commented on the target referred to in section 4.4 Ageing Well, suggesting caution / review, such statements may hold us “hostage to fortune”

In drawing the discussion to conclusion the Chair thanked Members for their comments, suggesting some useful ideas had been raised in particular the need to be more aspirational, the challenging of targets and the accuracy of the information presented were all issues which should be revisited.

The Chair invited the Director to comment on the feedback received.

The Director of Environment and Housing thanked Board Members for their contributions. The Director said we need to be mindful of the audience the document is intended for, possibly drafting a short/ sharp version intended for residents with a more detailed version for professionals. We would also need to form a judgement on ambition, provide more depth on contextualisation and look again at the diversity of themes. Overall it was a good step forward.

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the comments made by Board Members be received and welcomed

(ii)  That the Director of Environment and Housing be requested to look again at the draft strategy taking into account the feedback received

(iii)  That the report be brought back to the next meeting of the Board (April 2015) for further consideration