Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

 

To note the draft Housing Portfolio Plan 2014/15, which had set out the strategic objectives for the portfolio for the year ahead, describing the context in which the portfolio would be delivered and detailed the activities required to deliver the outcomes and the vision. Performance measures and risks were also shown for each strategic objective.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Housing

 

Noted the draft Housing Portfolio Plan 2014-15.

 

Reason for the Decision

 

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

 

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

In response to the report the Committee made the following comments:

 

     i.        The developing plans for the Council to deliver up to 2000 new affordable homes in Strategic Objective HS01 should state that this would be in the Greater Cambridge area and would be delivered with partnership agencies. The statement indicates this would be provided solely by the Council. This was a misleading statement.

    ii.        The reference to 2000 new affordable homes in Strategic Objective HS01 lay under the heading 2014/15, which gave the indication that 2000 homes would be built in this period.

   iii.        The Strategic Objective for HSO1 should state that the target of 2000 new affordable homes was based on the thirty year self-financing business plan and a completion date included. Based on the business plan the goal would be to build 66 homes per year to meet the 2000 new affordable homes.  This information should have been included in the report.

  iv.        The performance measures for the Strategic Objective HS02 did not provide a specific objective on how the Council would guarantee support for vulnerable people.

   v.        There was nothing in the performance measures for the Strategic Objective HS03 which indicated the following:

·      How the Council would tackle youth homelessness.

·      How the Council would integrate the homeless back into permanent housing.

·      How the Council would encourage landlords to bring the homeless back into the private sector. 

  vi.        Impressed with No 3 of the Performance Measures in the Strategic Objective HS01, which indicated that the majority of new Affordable Homes would be built to Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes in 2014/15, a higher level of privately built houses which were usually built to Level 3.

 vii.        Queried if the figure shown in No 2 of the Performance Measures in the Strategic Objective HS01 (completion of Affordable Housing on the other sites, total of 252), could be split into three categories:

·          Those outside the city boundaries.

·          Those on the growth sites.

·           Those elsewhere.

viii.        Asked if there was an update on the City Deal and how this would affect funding.

  ix.        Requested if information could be circulated to the Committee on the work of the Town Hall Lettings Scheme.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Executive Councillor for Housing and Officers confirmed the following:

 

       i.       The 2000 new affordable houses was part of the City Homes Scheme and she did not believe that the statement misleading.

     ii.       Advised that a Key Performance Indicator would be developed to measure how the Council was helping vulnerable people and this would be brought back to Committee for information.

    iii.       Although the report did not specifically indicate how the Council would combat youth homelessness, the Service for Single Homelessness stated in the report would cover young people. There were also charities and hostels that were in partnership with the Council such as the Cambridge Youth Foyer which assisted young people.

   iv.       Reminded the Committee that the report provided a general overview of the work that was carried out.

     v.       Confirmed that the Council were below the national average eviction rate. Fewer people were likely to be evicted than in previous years. Other measures were more complicated to calculate due to tenants who move on from a property and then re-present themselves later. A report would come back to Committee at a later date on these measures.

   vi.       Advised the Town Hall Lettings Scheme referenced in Strategic Objective HS03.1 would be working with landlords in the private sector.

    Confirmed that figure No 2 of the Performance Measures in the Strategic Objective HS01 other sites could be divided into further categories for better clarity.

  vii.       Advised that the City Deal could have an impact to the build rate of the 2000 new affordable homes, therefore it had been best not to include an end date.

 viii.       Noted the Committee’s comments that the report did not make reference to the business plan or an end date in Strategic Objective HS01 in relation to the completion of 2000 new affordable homes.

   ix.       Would like the Council to continue with the installation and energy efficiency to ensure that tenants could keep warm at a low cost.

     x.       There was no reason why an item on the Town Hall Lettings Scheme could not be included on a future agenda.

 

The Committee:

 

Resolved unanimously to note the Draft Housing Portfolio Plan 2014/15

 

The Executive Councillor for Housing noted the Draft Housing Portfolio Plan 

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.