Agenda item

To receive the report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support and Director of City Development which sets out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the Scrutiny inquiry into Housing Mix.

The Board received a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support and Director of City Development which sets out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the Scrutiny Inquiry into Housing Mix.

The following information was appended to the reports:

·  Appendix 3- Executive Board, 19^th April 2017, Housing White Paper- Department of Communities & Local Government (DCLG)

·  Appendix 4- Report to Development Plans Panel, 22 November 2016, Models of Housing Delivery

·  Appendix 5- Edge Analytics (2016) Leeds Demographic Review

The following representatives were in attendance to respond to Member’s queries and comments:

-  Martin Elliot, Group Manager (Policy & Plans)

-  Tim Hill, Chief Planning Officer

-  Cllr R Lewis, Executive Member for Regeneration, Transport & Planning

The key areas for discussion were:

·  Progress made in responding to recommendations arising from the Scrutiny Inquiry into Housing Mix.

·  Concern regarding the potential inflation of city-wide housing numbers as a result of a revised ‘Objectively Assessed Housing Need’ (OAN) methodology. Clarity was sought regarding the timescale of guidance in response to this.

·  The housing white paper, the lack of clarity this provides and the lack of standardised methodologies. Clarification was sought regarding a potential meeting with LCC Officers and the Chief Planner at DCLG.

·  The extent to which Neighbourhood plans and forums are able to impact on both Strategic and Local Housing Market Assessments and overall levels of housing need across the city.

·  The extent to which finalised Housing Market Assessments will be able to influence potential housing planning applications and carry weight against appeals.

·  Further detail was sought regarding arrangements in place to address specific local issues which may affect the quality of neighbourhood plans.

·  Detail was sought regarding the proportion of 1-2 bedroom properties being built within outer-areas of Leeds in comparison to those within city-centre localities.

·  Clarity was sought in relation to the breakdown of ‘unimplemented planning approvals’ and the extent to which figures were inclusive of the 18,000 homes with permission to be built on Brownfield Sites.

·  Concern regarding the seemingly broad minimum and maximum tolerance levels in relation to 1-4 bedroom properties and the extent to which these prove counterproductive.

The status of recommendations were agreed as follows:

·  Recommendation 1- Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 2- Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 3- Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 4- Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 5- Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 6- Achieved.

·  Recommendation 7- Achieved.

·  Recommendation 8 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 9- Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 10- Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring).

·  Recommendation 11- Not for monitoring- for information only.

RESOLVED- The Scrutiny Board:

a)  Noted the information contained within the report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support and Director of City Development.

b)  Considered the written and verbal information provided by visiting representatives.

c)  Approved the above recommendation statuses.