| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| SH 07/046 |
Declarations of interest. |
Councillor Cure as a member of the Board of Russet Homes declared a personal interest in any items referring to Russet Homes. |
| SH 07/047 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the notes of the meeting of the Strategic Housing Advisory Board held on 21 May 2007 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
| SH 07/048 |
Presentation from Jon Rosser, Chief Executive, Town and Country Housing Group |
Members received a presentation by Jon Rosser, Chief Executive, and Colin Lissenden, Director of New Business, at Town and Country Housing Group. The presentation described a range of the Group's completed and future projects and its involvement in engaging and supporting its customers. In wide-ranging discussion Members paid tribute to the Group's achievements and a very informative and inspiring presentation. Copies of the presentation slides would be made available to Members. |
| SH 07/049 |
Glossary for Strategic Housing Advisory Board Agenda |
Members welcomed the guide to the terminology and acronyms used in housing policy discussions. |
| MATTERS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE CABINET | ||
| SH 07/050 |
Planning for the Delivery of Affordable Housing in Rural Areas Decision Notice D070133MEM |
The joint report of the Director of Health and Housing and Cabinet Member for Housing updated Members on the progress made in enabling the provision of affordable rural housing and sought approval for a two-year programme of rural housing needs surveys. Members welcomed the programme, acknowledging the importance of having established the specific type of housing needed in each parish when considering planning applications. RECOMMENDED: That (1) the two-year programme of rural housing needs studies, set out in the report, be endorsed; and (2) the ongoing costs of commissioning rural housing needs surveys be considered during the next budgetary cycle. |
| SH 07/051 |
Housing Strategy Update and Review Decision Notice D070134MEM |
The joint report of the Director of Health and Housing and Cabinet Member for Housing set out proposals for taking forward the review of the Housing Strategy and recommended that it be deferred until 2008/09 to allow for the return of services administered by Russet Homes to be properly planned and to take advantage of proposals contained in the local government White Paper 'Strong and Prosperous Communities'. The good progress being made in delivering targets contained in the current Strategy action plan was also noted. In considering the report, Members recognised the need, when formally adopting new policies such as the Local Development Framework, to be clear which major aspects of the existing Housing Strategy had thus been amended. In welcoming the co-ordination of the Housing Strategy with the Community Strategy, Members agreed that maximising housing delivery would always be paramount. RECOMMENDED: that (1) the review of the Council's Housing Strategy be deferred to coincide with the review of the Community Strategy in 2008/09; and (2) a review of the Housing Strategy Action Plan during 2007/08 and its extension to cover the period 2008/09 be endorsed. |
| SH 07/052 |
West Kent Homelessness Strategy Decision Notice D070135MEM |
The joint report of the Director of Health and Housing and Cabinet Member for Housing presented the final draft of the Joint Homelessness Strategy for Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks councils and sought authority for its adoption. In discussing the report, Members advocated use of existing private sector and charitable services to achieve outcomes on matters such as debt, legal advice and rough sleepers. RECOMMENDED: that the Joint Homelessness Strategy be endorsed for adoption. |
| MATTERS SUBMITTED FOR INFORMATION | ||
| SH 07/053 |
Review of the Home Improvement Agency |
The Board noted the report of the Director of Health and Housing which informed Members of the need to use an external agency (In Touch) to assist clients of the Home Improvement Agency and highlighted the proposed Scrutiny Committee review of the Agency. |
| SH 07/054 |
Energy Efficiency Warm Homes in the Borough |
Members noted the report of the Director of Health and Housing which updated the Board on the Warm Homes Initiative being undertaken by the private sector housing team in partnership with the Kent Energy Centre as part of its activity programme for 2007/08. |
| SH 07/055 |
Development Report |
The report of the Director of Health and Housing updated Members on the progress being made by the Council's Registered Social Landlord (RSL) partners in providing new affordable housing in the Borough. In discussing this item Members expressed concerns regarding the criteria used for selecting tenants for new housing and officers undertook to consider the matter fully when the Council assumed responsibility for the Housing Register from Russet Homes. |
| MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION IN PRIVATE | ||
| SH 07/056 |
Exclusion of Press and Public |
No matters were considered in private. |