Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Housing presented the report. The new strategy was being developed in order to address significant changes in national policy and local priorities.

Although there was no statutory requirement for the Council to have a Housing Strategy, it was recognised as best practice. It provides a clear framework for housing policy across the district.

The Draft Housing Strategy (2025-30) set out a renewed vision for a secure, safe, good quality and sustainable housing. Supporting residents to live healthy and independently in resilient communities. The document aligned with the Council’s Corporate Plan and had 5 strategic priorities in place:

·       Delivering affordable and specialist housing.

·       Improving existing housing standards and safety.

·       Supporting independent living.

·       Promoting sustainable housing.

·       Fostering sustainable communities.

The strategy was underpinned by core delivery principles such as customer engagement, performance management, value for money, safeguarding and partnership working.

A monitoring framework alongside the strategy would attract progress against each priority.

Consultation played a key role in shaping the draft strategy and the consultation involved council staff, partners, developers, service providers and the community. Support for the proposed priorities was strong across all stakeholder groups.

This draft strategy would undergo further consultation prior to being finalised and presented to a future meeting of Cabinet, for approval. As part of further consultation, an all Member’s workshop would be arranged.

The Director of Housing confirmed the document would be formatted to coincide with the Corporate Plan.

A Member was pleased to see an objective around the introduction of specialist housing.

Concern was raised on the definition of affordable housing, and how this would tie into the Council’s Local Plan.

The Director of Housing confirmed the objective on specialist housing would mean partnership working with Lincolnshire County Council and specialist housing registered providers. The Council were not a specialist housing registered provider.

It was felt that a main priority identified was the preferred option of more one-bed properties.

It was questioned whether the Council could enforce one-bed properties to be built through the Local Plan and whether the Council had powers of enforcement in the area of private sector housing.

Unfortunately, the Council did not have any powers of enforcement in relation to one-bed properties or private sector housing.

At an estimate, around 600 people on the choice-based letting system required a one-bed property, out of 1600 people.

The Head of Service (Public Protection) confirmed private sector housing could be enforceable in the event of inspections where hazards were visible. Inspections were assessed on varying degrees of enforcement powers. Some of the Council’s Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO’s) were licensed, however, most were not licensed due to being below the occupancy threshold.

Key changes from Government legislation on the increased amount of social housing including the makeup of housing new builds with one-bedrooms. The legislation takes the balance of local need into consideration, this would support new developments coming forward.

A suggestion was made on whether the Council had enquired on purchasing care homes that had recently closed.  

The Director of Housing highlighted new one-bedroom developments in Grantham. Officers would explore the local need across the district and explore other areas of district.

If there are any major changes made to the document, it would be brought back to Housing OSC at a future meeting. Following that, the Housing Strategy was due to be heard at Cabinet in October or November 2025.

ACTION: For a Member Workshop to be set up in July 2025 on the Draft Housing Strategy (2025-30).

The Committee reviewed and made comment on the draft Housing Strategy which is subject to further consultation.

(The Committee had a 15 minute break)