| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| SH 08/001 |
Declarations of interest. |
No declarations of interest were made. |
| SH 08/002 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the notes of the meeting of the Strategic Housing Advisory Board held on 8 October 2007 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
| SH 08/003 |
Glossary |
The Chairman thanked the Director of Health and Housing for the inclusion of the glossary of terms used within reports to the Advisory Board. |
| MATTERS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE CABINET | ||
| SH 08/004 |
Disabled Facilities Grant/Housing Assistance Grant Update Decision Notice D080005MEM |
The report provided an update on the current spend for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) budget and the Housing Assistance budget. The report gave details of a recent request to the Government Office for the South East for additional DFG subsidy together with an update on the recent bid for private sector renewal funding (2008-2011) to the Regional Housing Board. Members were pleased to note that the Regional Housing Board had recommended that £9.75 million be allocated to this bid and that this equated to approximately £1.62 million over three years for private sector renewal within Tonbridge and Malling. Congratulations were recorded to the officers of Housing Services who had led the bid submission on behalf of eight local authorities within Kent. Members expressed concern about the growing mis-match between the demand for assistance and the level of government subsidy received by the Council to support this expenditure. The anticipated further growth in demand due to planned service improvements and an aging population was highlighted. The Board acknowledged the importance of continued lobbying of central Government for additional resources in order to maintain the current high quality services provided to the residents of the Borough. RECOMMENDED: That (1) the predicted overspend on Disabled Facilities Grants and the request to the Government Office for the South East for additional subsidy in this respect be noted; (2) the changes in the way Disabled Facilities Grants are handled by Russet Homes and the potential impact this may have on the Disabled Facilities Grant budget from 2008/09 be noted; and (3) the Director of Health and Housing be invited to submit a further report on the outcome of the bid for future private sector renewal resources together with further details on how such funds will assist with implementing the Housing Strategy and Housing Assistance policies. |
| SH 08/005 |
Housing for Young People at Risk in West Kent Decision Notice D080006MEM |
The report set out details of a proposal to develop the provision of supported housing for young people. RECOMMENDED: That, subject to the caveats identified in paragraph 1.11.1 of the report, the proposal to provide supported accommodation for young people at risk in West Kent be endorsed. |
| SH 08/006 |
Housing Strategy Progress Update and Revised Action Plan Decision Notice D080007MEM |
The report provided an update on the delivery of the targets contained in the action plan to the Housing Strategy 2005-2008 and advised that a revised Action Plan would be prepared to reflect new areas of service delivery and to update the existing plan pending the review of the Housing Strategy. RECOMMENDED: That the progress in performance against the targets contained in the current Housing Strategy Action Plan be noted and the revised action plan for the period 2008/09, as set out in Annex 2 to the report, be endorsed. |
| SH 08/007 |
Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Survey and Housing Strategy Implications Decision Notice D080008MEM |
The report confirmed the findings arising from the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment previously reported in February 2007. The report highlighted the housing strategy implications arising from the identified levels of need and identified the on-going plans to address them. RECOMMENDED: That (1) the findings of the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment be endorsed for housing strategy purposes; and (2) the housing strategy implications and progress with the development of options for the Coldharbour site be noted. |
| MATTERS SUBMITTED FOR INFORMATION | ||
| SH 08/008 |
Home Improvement Agency Scrutiny Review |
The report of the Director of Health and Housing provided an update on the progress of the Scrutiny Committee's review of the Home Improvement Agency. |
| SH 08/009 |
Homelessness and Housing Register Services |
The Director of Health and Housing provided an update on progress with the return of the homelessness and housing register services to an in-house provision. |
| SH 08/010 |
Private Finance Initiative Update |
The report of the Director of Health and Housing provided an update on progress with the private Finance Initiative with the Kent Better Homes Active Lives partnership to provide supported housing within the Borough for people with a learning disability. |
| SH 08/011 |
Kent Choice Based Lettings Scheme |
The Director of Health and Housing submitted a progress report on the Kent Choice Based Lettings Partnership scheme for the allocation of affordable housing. |
| SH 08/012 |
Development Report |
The Director of Health and Housing reported on progress made by the Council's Registered Social Landlord partners in providing new affordable housing in the Borough. Details of the current bidding round for the National Affordable Housing Programme 2008-11 were also provided. |
| MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION IN PRIVATE | ||
| SH 08/013 |
Exclusion of Press and Public |
No items were considered in private. |