Agenda and minutes

To receive comments or views from members of the public at the Panel’s discretion.

Mrs Patrick from the District Compact asked if the Wardens could be notified in advance of tenants moving in to council accommodation especially sheltered accommodation as there had been recent instances where the Warden had left Friday evening, a new tenant had been moved in over the weekend and the Warden had return to work Monday knowing nothing about the new resident.  The Corporate Director Regulatory Services informed Mrs Patrick that she would inform Valerie Hayllor, the interim Director of Tenancy Services accordingly.  Stamford Town Councillor Ray Lee also asked that better attention be given to those tenants who needed special care especially within sheltered accommodation and that wardens were notified accordingly of any problems.

The Panel to be notified of any substitute members.

The Panel were notified that Councillor Martin-Mayhew would be substituting for Councillor G Taylor until the next annual meeting of the Council and that Councillor Brailsford was substituting for Councillor Sandall for this meeting only.

None.

Members are asked to declare interests in matters for consideration at the meeting.

None declared.

The notes of the meeting held on 10th November are attached for information.

(Enclosure)

That the action notes from the meeting held on 10th November 2005 were accepted as a correct record with the following amendment:-

Page 7 last paragraph should read:

“The Portfolio Holder responsible for community safety referred to the proposed changes concerning the police and informed the panel that the ODPM had said that 59 new Community Police Support Officer units would be deployed in the County.  Eight of these units would be deployed in the South Kesteven area, probably two per main town.  He stressed that the District Council needed to continue to have close partnership working with the Police.

It was requested that in future where questions were asked and answers given that the answer could immediately follow the question.

The Scrutiny Officer reminded the Panel that a special meeting of the Council would be held that afternoon to decide the LSVT Strategic Choice of Landlord.

Report DCS36 from the Corporate Director Community Services.

(Enclosure)

Conclusion

(1)       That the Community Strategy be referred to the Engagement DSP for their consideration.

(2)              That the Community DSP has expressed concern that the report demonstrates problematic cross agency linkages.

The Panel noted and endorsed report DCS36 on the Community Strategy.  Reference was made to cross agency linkages which had been identified as a problem however, a panel member replied that work had been done in this area to change forecasts which would help to strengthen cross agency linkages.

Report DRS25 from the Corporate Director Regulatory Services.

(Enclosure)

·                  Private Sector Stock Survey                                     (Report to follow)

·                  Gypsies & Travellers Needs Survey                        (Report to follow)

Decision

(1)       That the Community DSP recommends that the Cabinet adopt the draft strategy following an Equality Impact Assessment.

(2)       That the outline “Affordable Housing Policies within the Housing Strategy” as identified in Section 7 of report DRS25 be included and also to include these proposals within the supplementary planning documents.

(3)       That the Community DSP recommends Cabinet to include the Private Sector Housing Strategies within the overall Housing Strategy as identified in section 4 of report DRS25a.

(4)       That the Community DSP recommends Cabinet to include the outline policy proposals within the Housing Strategy as identified in Section 4 of Report DRS25b and seek inclusion of the proposals for gypsies and travellers within the Local Development Framework.

The Corporate Director Regulatory Services submitted report DRS25 which had been circulated with the agenda together with the following supplementary reports DRS25a, DRS25b and DRS28.  She apologised for the lateness of the latter reports but this had been due to having to wait for other draft reports over the Christmas period.

The Council’s Housing Strategy had been under review and subject to consultation.  The revised strategy had taken account of previous feedback from GOEM and also the outcome of the Strategic Housing Inspection.

In May Fordham Research Limited had been commissioned to undertake a combined Housing Needs Survey and Private Sector Stock Condition Survey.  Three reports had been received back on Housing Needs Study report, Private Sector Stock Condition Survey and Gypsy and Travellers Study.  Fordham’s had briefed the Portfolio Holder, the Corporate Director Regulatory Services and the relevant senior managers on their findings and they would be available in the future to speak to the Panel of their findings if the Panel wished.  The executive summaries of the various reports were appended to the individual reports.  The strategy had also taken account of the emerging Government policies including Sustainable Communities: People, places and prosperity, Homes for All Plan and the Consultation Paper on a new Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3).   The Corporate Director Regulatory Services introduced the Senior Planning Officer for Policy to the Panel, Rachel Armstrong as some of the Housing Strategy recommendations would have an impact on the housing part of the Local Development Framework (LDF).

The Housing Needs assessment and the need for affordable housing was measured in two different ways.  By following the Basic Needs Assessment model an estimated requirement of 646 affordable dwellings per annum was required.  The “balancing housing market” methodology estimated new dwellings per annum of 460 units, both highlighting a substantial need for affordable housing in the district.  Affordable housing needed to be across the range including the rented sector, private rented, owner/occupier, shared ownership and the report detailed the analysis undertaken by Fordham’s and the various factors involved.   The Housing Need Survey had implications for the LDF and in particular to Supplementary Planning documents.

The Senior Planning Officer for Policy then briefly outlined the LDF which would comprise a number of different documents including two main policy documents – a Core Strategy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.

Update to be given at the meeting by the Housing Solutions Manager.

Decision

That Councillor Martin-Mayhew joins the Strategic Housing Working Group.

The Corporate Director Regulatory Services introduced the Housing Solutions Manager to the Panel.  He introduced report DRS28 which concerned a copy of a letter that had been received from the ODPM and the response from the Leader of the Council which had highlighted the areas where major improvements and the development of the housing service were being carried out.   The Housing Solutions Manger said that regular contact was being kept with the GOEM and south Kesteven were seeking help where it was available.  The 90-point improvement plan, which had been approved last May, was mainly on target although there had been some slippage due to problems with recruitment but the GOEM was aware of the problems being encountered. 

The Corporate Director Regulatory Services informed members that an informal visit by one of the Inspectors would be taking place between the 25th & 27th January to see if the Council was moving in the right direction.  She asked if the Working Group could hold a meeting before this date.  Reference was then made to the composition of the working group and it was agreed that Councillor Martin-Mayhew would join the group.

A question was asked about the vacant posts and the pressure that this was putting on the other members of the team.  The Corporate Director Regulatory Services then briefly detailed the processes that had been undertaken in the Housing section with regard to selection and recruitment and although the process had not gone as well as expected they had come a long way and she was confident that the posts which were outstanding would be filled in the near future and she paid thanks to the work of the Council’s Human Resources Section in their help with the work that had been undertaken.  The GOEM was aware of the issues and they were happy with the progress to date and the Council’s commitment.

Working Groups to update Members.

The Scrutiny Officer informed that Panel that the Voids working group was still waiting for a property in the Deepings to view.  He had learnt that a property had become vacant but members of the Working Group would need to look at the property at 9.30am the next day.   Members felt that this was too short notice and unless the two panel members not present at the meeting were able to attend to look at the property then they would wait for a further property to become vacant in the Deepings before submitting a final report to the DSP.

(Enclosure)

Members noted the current BVPI figures.  The Housing Solutions Manager referred to the two sheets appended to the BVPI figures which gave members more details concerning the affordable housing projects.

(Enclosure)

The Scrutiny Officer submitted an up to date work programme for members’ information.   A question was asked about Worth Court to which the Corporate Director Regulatory Services replied.  She also informed members that the HRA business plan would be taken off the forward plan as this item would not be dealt with until the ballot to tenants had been undertaken and the outcome known.

To receive updates from members on outside bodies.

(Enclosure)

Members noted the report.

Members decided to hold the next meeting of the Community DSP in the Corn Exchange Bourne.  The meeting to start at 10.00am.

The meeting closed at 11.55am.