| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| SH 12/001 |
Declarations of interest. |
Councillor Mrs Luck declared a personal interest in any items relating to tenants in receipt of housing benefit due to her position as a private landlord. Councillor Heslop declared a personal interest in any items that might have implications for the Bridge Trust on the grounds that he was a member of its Board. |
| SH 12/002 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the notes of the meeting of the Strategic Housing Advisory Board held on 7 November 2011 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
| SH 12/003 |
Presentation by Steve Woodcock, Managing Director, Russet Homes |
Members received a presentation from Mr Steve Woodcock, Managing Director of Russet Homes outlining the association's perspective on the future of social housing within the Borough. |
| SH 12/004 |
Glossary for Strategic Housing Advisory Board |
The Director of Health and Housing submitted a glossary of terms used within the reports to the Advisory Board. |
| MATTERS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE CABINET | ||
| SH 12/005 |
The Future of Social Housing - Paper to Ambition Board 2 Decision Notice D120016MEM |
The joint report of the Director of Health and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Housing summarised the key messages contained in the paper submitted to Ambition Board 2 in January 2012. It provided an update on the funding regime for new social and affordable housing in Kent and identified specific actions to respond to the key challenges ahead. RECOMMENDED: That (1) the recommendations set out at Section 9 of Annex 1 to the report, be endorsed; and (2) a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Strategic Housing Advisory Board setting out how this Council and its Registered Provider Partners can safeguard a continuing supply of new social rented homes to meet the future needs of low income households. |
| SH 12/006 |
Housing Strategy 2012 Decision Notice D120017MEM |
The joint report of the Director of Health and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Housing set out the proposed timescales for the review of the Housing Strategy and Action Plan. RECOMMENDED: That the timetable for the review of the Housing Strategy and Action Plan be approved. |
| SH 12/007 |
Review of the Housing Allocations Scheme Decision Notice D120018MEM |
The joint report of the Director of Health and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Housing set out the proposed revisions to the housing allocations scheme, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, and anticipated timescales for implementation. Members sought clarification that applicants in Band D, assessed as having low need and therefore little prospects of being rehoused from the housing register, would remain on the register and be offered advice on their housing options. RECOMMENDED: That (1) the proposed method of seeking views on potential changes to the Housing Allocations Scheme be endorsed for the purposes of formal consultation ending on 28 May 2012; and (2) the timetable for the review of the Housing Allocations Scheme, as set out in section 1.2 of the report, be approved. |
| SH 12/008 |
Empty Homes Protocol Decision Notice D120019MEM |
The joint report of the Director of Health and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Housing set out a draft Empty Homes Protocol, which proposed a corporate approach to tackling the problems associated with empty properties and returning empty private sector dwellings to occupation. The protocol replaced and updated the Empty Homes Strategy (2005-08) and was designed to provide a reference document for all departments involved in empty property work. In addition, the report provided an update on the negotiations between Kent Fire and Rescue Service and Russet Homes to bring two long term empty fire authority properties back into occupation. RECOMMENDED: That the approach set out in the Empty Homes Protocol, set out at Annex 1 to the report, be endorsed. |
| MATTERS SUBMITTED FOR INFORMATION | ||
| SH 12/009 |
The Localism Act 2011 |
The report of the Director of Health and Housing identified the key implications for the Housing service arising from the Localism Act. |
| SH 12/010 |
Laying the Foundations: A Housing Strategy for England |
The report summarised the key messages and outputs from the Government's new Housing Strategy for England 2011, which aimed to address concerns across the housing market and make it easier to secure mortgages on new homes, improving fairness in social housing and ensure empty homes were brought back into use. |
| SH 12/011 |
Private Sector Housing Update |
The report of the Director of Health and Housing provided updates on the Home Improvement Agency Service contracts; an Overview and Scrutiny Committee review of children's Occupational Therapy Services; Disabled Facilities Grant funding for 2011/12; the ‘Green Deal' and ‘Energy Company Obligation'; and the Housing Assistance policy. |
| SH 12/012 |
Housing Needs Update |
The report provided an update on the activity of the Housing Options and Housing Register Services. |
| SH 12/013 |
Strategy and Enabling Update |
The report of the Director of Health and Housing updated Members on progress made by the Council's Registered Provider (RP) Partners in providing new affordable housing in the Borough. It summarised the programmes for 20010/11 to 2013/14 and described progress on housing strategy matters. |
| SH 12/014 |
External Consultations |
The report set out details of the responses submitted regarding external consultations since the last meeting of the Advisory Board. |
| MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION IN PRIVATE | ||
| SH 12/015 |
Exclusion of Press and Public |
The Chairman moved, it was seconded and RESOLVED: That as public discussion would disclose exempt information the following matter be considered in private. |
| PART 2 - PRIVATE | ||
| MATTERS SUBMITTED FOR INFORMATION | ||
| SH 12/016 |
Service of Statutory Notices (Reason: LGA 1972 - Sch 12A Paragraph 3 - Financial or business affairs of any particular person) |
Members noted the statutory notice served since the last meeting of the Advisory Board on 7 November 2011. |