Decision details

Consideration was given to recommendation HP 24/9 of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee of 19 March 2024 in respect of empty homes in the borough, a new Local Government Association (LGA) report on dealing with empty homes and proposals for the introduction of a new Empty Homes Officer post.

Cabinet had due regard to the views of the Scrutiny Select Committee, the financial and value for money considerations and legal implications and recognised the importance of adopting measures to get empty properties back into use. 

On the grounds of focusing attention, monitoring progress and exploring options for a longer-term approach, Cllr Boughton proposed, seconded by Cllr Coffin, the establishment of a fixed term Empty Homes Officer post.  The creation of a budget of £30,000 to fund work that enabled the facilitation of empty homes being brought back into use was also supported.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            a two-year fixed-term Empty Homes Officer post be established;

(2)            the cost of the post (£91,000) and empty homes budget (£30,000) be taken from the Housing Assistance Reserve; and

(3)            the Local Government Association report on empty homes be noted and that this approach be utilised as the basis for the fixed-term Empty Homes Officer post.