Issue - meetings

Cabinet are asked to agree the publication of the BCP Housing Delivery Test (HDT) Action Plan which is required by national policy. Locally across the BCP area, the need for additional homes is recognised in the legacy Housing Strategies and adopted Local Plans.

An HDT Action Plan is required where delivery falls below 95% of local housing requirements. The 2018 HDT results (published in February 2019) were assessed against housing requirements for the preceding Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Councils where each area fell below the 95% benchmark. The Action Plan must set out measures the Council will take to increase delivery back to required rates. Given Local Government Reorganisation, a consolidated action plan for BCP Council is proposed to be published.

Officers across Growth & Infrastructure and Housing have worked collaboratively to produce this Action Plan. The timeframe for the Action Plan covers the period 2019 to 2022 to allow for the various actions to be implemented. A 3-year time period will also provide the Council with resilience for future HDT results, which are likely to remain a challenge to meet in the short term.

The Action Plan will be monitored via a Steering Group jointly led by Growth & Infrastructure and Housing including input from the Portfolio Holders of Strategic Planning and Housing. It is envisaged that an update on progress will be reported to Cabinet on an annual basis. Within BCP Council, sufficient staff resources will be applied to deliver this programme.

The Portfolio Holders for Strategic Planning and Housing presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were requested to consider agreeing the publication of the BCP Council Housing Delivery Test (HDT) Action Plan which is required by national policy. In relation to this Cabinet were advised that locally across the BCP Council area, the need for additional homes is recognised in the legacy Housing Strategies and adopted Local Plans.

Further to this Cabinet were advised that an HDT Action Plan was required where delivery falls below 95% of local housing requirements, and that the 2018 HDT results (published in February 2019) were assessed against housing requirements for the preceding Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Councils where each area fell below the 95% benchmark.

Cabinet were advised that the Action Plan must set out measures the Council will take to increase delivery back to required rates.

In presenting the report the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning advised that on page 181 paragraph 4.12 the reference to Christchurch Town Council in relation to Roeshot Hill Allotments should be amended to read Highcliff and Walkford Parish Council, and that the housing on page 165 paragraph 2.4 the housing figure of 722 should be amended to read 730.

A Member of the Overview and Scrutiny Board advised Cabinet that at their recent meeting the Board had supported the item, but had discussed the action plan, and whether there were enough short sharp actions which could be achieved by using what we know.

A Councillor present at the meeting congratulated the author of the report for writing a first class report.

RESOLVED that the work undertaken to date be endorsed and the Action Plan at Appendix 1 of the report be published.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holders: Strategic Planning

Housing

The Portfolio Holders for Strategic Planning and Housing presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were requested to consider agreeing the publication of the BCP Council Housing Delivery Test (HDT) Action Plan which is required by national policy. In relation to this Cabinet were advised that locally across the BCP Council area, the need for additional homes is recognised in the legacy Housing Strategies and adopted Local Plans.

Further to this Cabinet were advised that an HDT Action Plan was required where delivery falls below 95% of local housing requirements, and that the 2018 HDT results (published in February 2019) were assessed against housing requirements for the preceding Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Councils where each area fell below the 95% benchmark.

Cabinet were advised that the Action Plan must set out measures the Council will take to increase delivery back to required rates.

In presenting the report the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning advised that on page 181 paragraph 4.12 the reference to Christchurch Town Council in relation to Roeshot Hill Allotments should be amended to read Highcliff and Walkford Parish Council, and that the housing on page 165 paragraph 2.4 the housing figure of 722 should be amended to read 730.

A Member of the Overview and Scrutiny Board advised Cabinet that at their recent meeting the Board had supported the item, but had discussed the action plan, and whether there were enough short sharp actions which could be achieved by using what we know.

A Councillor present at the meeting congratulated the author of the report for writing a first class report.

RESOLVED that the work undertaken to date be endorsed and the Action Plan at Appendix 1 of the report be published.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holders: Strategic Planning

Housing