Agenda and draft minutes

To receive the notes of the Community and Wellbeing PDAG held on 18 May 2021

The notes from the previous meeting held on the 18 May were received.

The Group will discuss the draft Housing Strategy following the Group’s earlier discussions around themes and general context on 18 May 2021. This will include an overview from the Head of Housing and Community Services followed by questions from PDAG members.

The Head of Housing & Community Services briefed the group on the draft Housing & Homeless Strategy 2021-26. The strategy is proposed to be implemented in a 3-stage approach and contained five key themes:

1. Ensure no-one needs to sleep rough through having no other choice
2. Empower residents to live independently in their homes
3. Deliver the number and size of affordable homes that our communities and residents need in line with planning policies
4. Provide and maintain an accessible and fair housing register
5. Prevent all forms of homelessness for our District’s residents

The Head of Housing & Community Services invited members of the PDAG to ask questions or share comments on the updated strategy.

There were a number of suggestions for additional points, these included a further breakdown of housing register data to include issues such as family breakdown and additional needs, as well as a GANT chart to demonstrate when each review is likely to take place. It was also suggested there should be reference to the Armed Forces Covenant and the Rural Exception Policy within the strategy.

Overall, the group were supportive of the approach and five themes. Moving forward with the additional points, the strategy would be taken to Cabinet followed by Full Council for approval.

To note the Forward Plan extract for the Housing and Public Protection Portfolio

The Forward Plan extract was noted.  The group noted that an update on the Council’s Housing Company would be brought to a future PDAG.