Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Housing & Public Protection

RESOLVED

i)           To approve the Council’s Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2021-2026.

ii)          To delegate authority to the Relevant Cabinet Member to monitor performance against the Delivery Plan with periodic updates being presented to Cabinet following the Strategy’s adoption.

iii)        To note that this Strategy is the first step in a multi-stage approach, as set out in section 3 of this report.

TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL

iv)        That the Council’s Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2021-2026 be adopted.

REASON

i)        To ensure the Council fulfils its statutory responsibility of having a current Housing and Homelessness Strategy.

ii)       To give the Housing and Homelessness Service clear direction and objectives that will guide decision-making, projects and priorities over the next five years.

Councillor Paul Clarke, Leader of the Council, introduced the proposed strategy on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Housing & Public Protection.  He stated that the strategy would build on the Council’s excellent record on delivering affordable homes, and support local residents in housing need in a number of ways. 

Following consultation with members of the Policy Development Advisory Group, five key points had been identified to help structure the policy: i)  to ensure that no-one needs to sleep rough through having no other choice; ii) to empower residents to live independently in their homes; iii) to deliver the number and size of affordable homes that our communities and residents need, in line with planning policies; iv)  to provide and maintain an accessible and fair housing register; and v) to prevent all forms of homelessness for our district’s residents.

The strategy would be delivered in a phased way, to include a review of the key service areas, followed by detailed action plans with measurable outcomes, and then the implementation of these proposed actions.   

RESOLVED

i)          To approve the Council’s Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2021-2026.

ii)         To delegate authority to the Relevant Cabinet Member to monitor performance against the Delivery Plan with periodic updates being presented to Cabinet following the Strategy’s adoption.

iii)        To note that this Strategy is the first step in a multi-stage approach, as set out in section 3 of this report.

TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL

iv)        That the Council’s Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2021-2026 be adopted.

REASON

i)        To ensure the Council fulfils its statutory responsibility of having a current Housing and Homelessness Strategy.

ii)       To give the Housing and Homelessness Service clear direction and objectives that will guide decision-making, projects and priorities over the next five years.