| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| SH 07/057 |
Declarations of interest. |
No declarations of interest were made. |
| SH 07/058 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the notes of the meeting of the Strategic Housing Advisory Board held on 16 July 2007 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
| SH 07/059 |
Presentation by Claire Martin, Head of the Supporting People Team, Kent County Council |
Ms Claire Martin, Head of the Supporting People Team of Kent County Council, outlined the role and responsibilities of the Supporting People Team and made particular reference to the Supporting People Older Persons Review reported elsewhere in the meeting. |
| MATTERS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE CABINET | ||
| SH 07/060 |
Supporting People Older Persons Review Update Decision Notice D070170MEM |
The joint report of the Director of Health and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Housing updated the position on the outcome of the 'Older Persons Strategic Review' setting out a revised set of recommendations agreed by the Commissioning Body, which effectively secured the existing support arrangements for older people. RECOMMENDED: That the revised proposals arising from the Older Persons Strategic Review, as outlined in the report, be noted and supported. |
| SH 07/061 |
Return of Homelessness & Housing Register Service |
The joint report of the Director of Health and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Housing provided an update on progress with the preparation for the return of the homelessness and housing register services to an 'in-house' provision. The report set out the new areas of direct operation for the Council and identified the staff and IT resources required to provide an effective service to the public. RECOMMENDED: That (1) the proposed arrangements for providing housing register, homelessness and housing advice services when the service returns in-house by 31 March 2008 be endorsed; (2) the proposed resourcing of the service, as explained in the report, be endorsed subject to the endorsement by General Purposes Committee of the changes to the staffing establishment; (3) the proposed means by which it is planned to offset future growth in expenditure created by the staffing proposals be supported; (4) the additional short-term expenditure arising from the interim IT solution be considered during the forthcoming budget cycle; (5) the need to review and update the Council's Allocation Scheme be noted; and (6) further reports on the implementation of the service arrangements and, in particular, the monitoring and review of nominations and allocations to housing be submitted to future meetings of the Strategic Housing Advisory Board. *Referred to Cabinet |
| SH 07/062 |
Review of Housing Allocation Scheme Decision Notice D070171MEM |
The joint report of the Director of Health and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Housing referred to the need to undertake a review of the Council's housing allocations scheme. A revised draft scheme was proposed, taking account of best practice, and authority to commence formal consultation sought. RECOMMENDED: That the Draft Housing Allocations Scheme, set out in the Annex to the report, be endorsed for the purposes of formal consultation ending on 7 January 2008. |
| SH 07/063 |
Tackling Empty Homes Decision Notice D070172MEM |
The joint report of the Director of Health and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Housing explained Kent County Council's 'No Use Empty' initiative currently operated with district authorities in East Kent using Public Service Agreement funding. The report set out the benefits of joining the scheme and advised that the Borough Council had been invited to join the initiative when it was rolled out across the whole of Kent in January 2008. RECOMMENDED: That approval be given to join the 'No Use Empty' initiative when it was extended throughout Kent in January 2008. |
| SH 07/064 |
Use of Regional Housing Board Resources to tackle disrepair in the Private Sector Decision Notice D070173MEM |
The joint report of the Director of Health and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Housing sought approval to allocate funding to an external organisation to assist the Council in maximising spend of the 2007/08 Regional Housing Board funding for private sector housing renewal. RECOMMENDED: That the proposed increase in the role of the 'in touch' Home Improvement Agency in support of the Council's private sector Housing Assistance programmes be endorsed. |
| SH 07/065 |
The Housing Green Paper, "Homes for the Future: More Affordable, More Sustainable" Decision Notice D070174MEM |
Consideration was given to a proposed response to the Government's Housing Green Paper, 'Homes for the future; more affordable, more sustainable', published by the Department for Communities and Local Government on 23 July 2007. The joint report of the Director of Health and Housing and the Director of Planning, Transport and Leisure indicated that the Green Paper focussed on building new homes to meet demand, including more affordable homes and that it should be viewed in the context of other major reviews and policy initiatives around localism and empowerment of communities. The report recommended a response which included endorsement of the response by the Local Government Association. RECOMMENDED: That the comments set out in paragraphs 1.15 to 1.17 of the report be endorsed as the basis of the Council's response to the Housing Green Paper. |
| MATTERS SUBMITTED FOR INFORMATION | ||
| SH 07/066 |
Regional Housing Board bid for Private Sector Renewal Funding |
The report of the Director of Health and Housing outlined details of a partnership bid, led by this authority, for an allocation of the South East Regional Housing Board Private Sector Renewal Programme 2008-11. |
| SH 07/067 |
Update on Disabled Facilities Consultation Paper |
The report of the Director of Health and Housing provided an update on the responses made to the consultation paper published by the Department for Communities and Local Government on the Disabled Facilities Grant Programme. |
| SH 07/068 |
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 forthcoming bidding round for the National Affordable Housing Programme 2008-11 were also provided. |
| SH 07/069 |
External Consultations |
The Director of Health and Housing submitted details of consultation documents responded to since the last meeting of the Board. |
| MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION IN PRIVATE | ||
| SH 07/070 |
Exclusion of Press and Public |
No items were considered in private. |