Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Housing Strategy and Commissioning Section providing the Area Committee with an overview of the emerging Leeds Housing Strategy and links to the Outer North West area.

A report of the Housing Strategy and Commissioning Section was submitted providing the Area Committee with an overview of the emerging Leeds Housing Strategy and links to the Outer North West area.

Rob McCartney, Housing Strategy and Commissioning Manager and Bridget Emery, Head of Housing Strategy and Solutions presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

The presentation focused on the following three key themes:-

• Increasing the supply of affordable housing
• Improving housing quality
• Promoting independent living

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and Members sought clarification on a number of key issues around Decency Plus (which had been omitted from the strategy); shared equity; funding shortfalls in relation to meeting the decency standard; housing associations and the affordability agenda with the aim of purchasing more empty properties; concerns regarding the standard of the quality of housing etc.

The Committee noted that the Leeds Housing Strategy would be considered by the Executive Board in July 2009.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.