| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| SH 08/014 |
Declarations of interest. |
No declarations of interest were made. |
| SH 08/015 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the notes of the meeting of the Strategic Housing Advisory Board held on 7 January 2008 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
| SH 08/016 |
Glossary |
The Director of Health and Housing submitted a glossary of terms used within reports to the Advisory Board. |
| SH 08/017 |
Presentation by Wendy Lockton-Goddard of Creative Environmental Networks on progress in developing the Council's Housing Energy Efficiency Statement |
In the absence of Wendy Lockton-Goddard, Mr Matthew Morris of Creative Environmental Networks presented an update on progress made in the development of the Council's Housing Energy Efficiency Statement. |
| MATTERS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE CABINET | ||
| SH 08/018 |
Review of Housing Assistance Grant Policy |
The joint report of the Director of Health and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Housing provided details of the changes required to the Council's Housing Assistance policy in order to incorporate the activities identified in the North and West Kent Private Sector Renewal Partnership bid for Regional Housing Board funding for 2008-11. It was anticipated that the grant payments would commence on 1 April 2008 and Members were advised that the Regional Housing Board guidance required local authorities to focus on the Decent Homes agenda, the improvement of energy efficiency (including the use of renewables) and the introduction of the concept of 'loans' rather than capital grants. Members expressed concern about the nature of any 'charge' to be placed on a property and suggested that a 'de minimis' limit should be applied to the level of loans attracting such charges. RECOMMENDED: That, subject to the Council benefitting from the allocation of Private Sector Renewal funding from the Regional Housing Board, (1) the amendment of the existing Housing Assistance policy to incorporate a charge on the property in perpetuity where relevant assistance is provided be agreed; (2) the changes in eligibility criteria for Decent Homes Assistance to include ‘vulnerable' households as a trigger for assistance without the need for a financial assessment be agreed; (3) the additional activities as set out at paragraph 1.4 to the report be included within the Council's Housing Assistance policy; and (4) the amendment set out at para 1.5 to the report, which clarifies the policy in respect of mobile homes and houseboats, be agreed. *Referred to Cabinet |
| MATTERS SUBMITTED FOR INFORMATION | ||
| SH 08/019 |
Housing Energy Efficiency Statement Update |
The joint report of the Director of Health and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Housing provided background information on the presentation provided by Creative Environmental Networks. Members noted that the revised Housing Energy Efficiency Statement would form part of the Housing Strategy to be developed during 2008-09 and would replace the Energy and Fuel Poverty Strategy 2003-2006. Members referred to the earlier presentation by Matthew Morris and requested that details of the information used to develop the targets contained in the action plan be supplied to allow them to contribute fully in the proposed Housing Energy Efficiency Statement when it was considered at a future meeting of the Advisory Board. |
| SH 08/020 |
Creating a Sustainable Community in Kent |
The joint report of the Director of Health and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Housing set out details of the protocol developed by the Kent Housing Group for creating sustainable communities within Kent. |
| SH 08/021 |
Update on Allocation Scheme Consultation |
The report of the Director of Health and Housing set out details of the responses received to the public consultation on the revised Housing Allocation Scheme. |
| SH 08/022 |
Return of Homelessness and Housing Register Service |
The Director of Health and Housing's report provided an update on progress with the return of the homelessness and housing register services to an in-house provision. Congratulations were recorded to the officers of Housing Services for their contribution towards the re-introduction of this service. |
| SH 08/023 |
Private Sector Housing Update |
The report of the Director of Health and Housing set out details of the recent announcement of an increased Disabled Facilities Grant allocation for Tonbridge and Malling in 2007/08 and provided updates on the West Kent Landlord Forum and the Kent Empty Property Initiative. |
| SH 08/024 |
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. |
| SH 08/025 |
Service of Statutory Notices |
The report of the Director of Health and Housing set out details of statutory notices served since the last meeting of the Advisory Board. |
| MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION IN PRIVATE | ||
| SH 08/026 |
Exclusion of Press and Public |
No items were considered in private. |