Issue - meetings

The BCP Housing Strategy was produced in 2021 and set priorities to be delivered over the following five years. Given the challenges in the economy and the housing market both locally and nationally, a mid-point review has been completed to consider delivery to date, key challenges, and what has changed since 2021. The review then considers how the Delivery Plan needs to adapt to ensure delivery against the strategy objectives is maximised.

The proposed new Delivery Plan for 2025-2027 is appended to this report and Cabinet are asked to approve this.

The report also proposes a new governance structure to improve oversight and programme management of the Plan in its final stages.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)           Approved the Revised Housing Strategy Delivery Plan at appendix B; 

(b)          Approved the extension of the current Housing Strategy Period to 2027;

(c)           Approved the governance structure as set out in paragraphs 7-11 of the report; and

(d)          Approved that the steering group being formed be made up of 1 member of each Political group and 1 unaligned member.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Housing and Regulatory Services

Reason

To enable the Council to maximise delivery against the Housing Strategy Vision; to provide a safe, secure and sustainable home where it is needed and thereby enabling people the opportunity to live well.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the BCP Housing Strategy was produced in 2021 and set priorities to be delivered over the following five years, and that given the challenges in the economy and the housing market both locally and nationally, a mid-point review has been completed to consider delivery to date, key challenges, and what has changed since 2021.

Cabinet was informed that the review then considers how the Delivery Plan needs to adapt to ensure delivery against the strategy objectives is maximised.

Cabinet was advised that the proposed new Delivery Plan for 2025-2027 was appended to the report and that Cabinet were being asked to approve this.

Further to this Cabinet were informed that the report also proposes a new governance structure to improve oversight and programme management of the Plan in its final stages.

The Chair of the Environment and Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Rigby addressed the Cabinet advising that the Committee at their meeting had debated the item in detail and agreed the following recommendation: -

RESOLVED that the Environment and Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee recommend to Cabinet that the steering group being formed is made up of 1 member of each Political group and 1 unaligned member.

The Portfolio Holder thanked the Environment and Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee for their through debate at the Committee and expressed support for their recommendation.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)           Approved the Revised Housing Strategy Delivery Plan at appendix B; 

(b)          Approved the extension of the current Housing Strategy Period to 2027;

(c)           Approved the governance structure as set out in paragraphs 7-11 of the report; and

(d)          Approved that the steering group being formed be made up of 1 member of each Political group and 1 unaligned member.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Housing and Regulatory Services

Reason

To enable the Council to maximise delivery against the Housing Strategy Vision; to provide a safe, secure and sustainable home where it is needed and thereby enabling people the opportunity to live well.

The BCP Housing Strategy was produced in 2021 and set priorities to be delivered over the following five years. Given the challenges in the economy and the housing market both locally and nationally, a review has been completed to consider delivery to date, key challenges, and what has changed since 2021. The review then considers how the Delivery Plan needs to adapt to ensure delivery against the strategy objectives is maximised.

This report outlines the proposed key changes to the Delivery Plan, which Cabinet is asked to approve. It also proposes a new Governance Structure to improve oversight and programme management of the Plan in its final stages.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The BCP Housing Strategy was produced in 2021 and set priorities to be delivered over the following five years. Given the challenges in the economy and the housing market both locally and nationally, a review had been completed to consider delivery to date, key challenges, and what had changed since 2021. The review then considered how the Delivery Plan needed to be adapted to ensure delivery against the strategy objectives was maximised.

The report outlined the proposed key changes to the Delivery Plan, which Cabinet was asked to approve. It also proposed a new Governance Structure to improve oversight and programme management of the Plan in the final stages.

Best practice in other councils was looked at to understand what BCP Council could do better.  Bringing down the number of void days in BCP housing stock was priority.

The Committee was informed that there was a Housing Dashboard to show development against the strategy.

The Committee were informed that there was wealth inequality in the ages of people able to buy property due to it being unaffordable for different generations. 

The Portfolio Holder stated that they will be setting up a housing steering group once the paper has been to Cabinet in April.  The hope was that the steering group would contribute to the strategy.

RESOLVED that the Overview & Scrutiny Committee recommend to Cabinet that that the Housing Strategy Steering Group be comprised of one member from  each political group and one unaligned member.

Voting: Unanimous