Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest in accordance with the Code of Conduct.  However Councillor N Heslop referred to a potential interest in any items that might have implications for the Bridge Trust on the grounds that he was a member of its Board.

To confirm as a correct record the Notes of the meeting of Strategic Housing Advisory Board held on 10 November 2014

RESOLVED:  That the notes of the meeting of the Strategic Housing Advisory Board held on 10 November 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health submitted a glossary of terms used within the reports to the Advisory Board. 

Decision Notice D150016MEM

Further to Decision No D150011CAB, the report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health set out details of the re-evaluation of the proposed financial thresholds and the status on the housing register of households which exceeded those thresholds.  A copy of the revised Housing Allocation Scheme was attached at Annex 3 to the report and it was advised that the 13 Private Registered Providers within the Borough and other main stakeholders would be consulted on the proposed revisions to the scheme. 

RECOMMENDED that:

(1)       the proposed revisions to the Housing Allocation Scheme be approved;

(2)       the revised scheme be implemented in July 2015; and

(3)       the Chief Housing Officer be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and the Chairman of the Strategic Housing Advisory Board, to finalise the details of the Housing Allocation Scheme following the consultation with the Registered Providers and other main stakeholders to be undertaken in March and April 2015.

Decision Notice D150017MEM

The report set out details of a proposed amendment to the Choice Based Lettings Scheme to allow the implementation of a daily bidding system.

RECOMMENDED:  That the implementation of a daily bidding system for the Choice Based Lettings Scheme be approved. 

The report provided updates on the Kent and Medway Sustainable Energy Partnership procurement framework for energy efficiency improvements; Partnership working with Health professionals across West Kent; Winter Warmth Funding; the Collective Switching Scheme; and the Empty Homes Review by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  The Private Sector Housing Team gave a presentation on the varied and vital work undertaken by the team which illustrated the high level of partnership working between Council services and with external organisations. 

The report provided an update on progress made by the Council’s Registered Provider (RP) Partners to provide new affordable housing within the Borough between 2012/13 and 2014/15 and described the progress on various housing strategy initiatives. 

The report provided an update on the activity of the Housing Options team to promote the prevention of homelessness and address the housing needs of local residents.  It was noted that the number of households seeking advice and/or applying to the Housing Register for social housing remained significantly high. 

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.

The Chairman moved, it was seconded and

RESOLVED:  That as public discussion would disclose exempt information, the following matters be considered in private.

(Reason: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Paragraph 3 – Financial or business affairs of an particular person)

(Reason: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Paragraph 3 – Financial or business affairs of any particular person)

The report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health set out details of statutory notices served since the last meeting of the Advisory Board.