SOCIAL SERVICES, HOUSING AND BENEFITS SELECT COMMITTEE
– 12 JUNE 2003
HOUSING RENEWAL STRATEGY
REPORT OF THE HEAD OF HOUSING
SERVICES
1.
This paper is to inform members of the contents of a new
strategic approach to Housing Renewal on the Island. The development of a new Housing Renewal Strategy is a statutory
requirement for all local authorities wishing to award grants and assistance
for renewal.
ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
To debate and make
recommendations |
2.
The Regulatory Reform Order 2002 came into force on 18 July
2002, repealing the legislation governing the provision of previous housing
renewal assistance.
3.
The Order required that all local authorities wishing to
distribute grants would need to publish a new renewal policy by the 18th
July 2003.
4.
The attached strategic document presents the framework for
the Island’s new renewal policy.
STRATEGIC
CONTEXT
5. The aim of the strategy is to address Housing Renewal in a
targeted manner with reference to other corporate objectives. Explicit linkages are made in the document
to the Homelessness Strategy, empty property targets, hospital discharges, care
and repair and Agenda 21.
6. The Strategy adopts a balanced approach to the diverse
circumstances that exist on the Island.
It utilises a combination of encouragement through advice and assistance
and enforcement of minimum standards through which to deliver our required
outcomes:
7. The document represents the first attempt to produce a
separate strategy for Housing Renewal.
In the past, the topic has been subsumed within the overall housing
strategy. In so doing, it reflects a
growing recognition of the need to recognise the Island’s housing as a key
resource and to engage with local housing market.
8. Proposed changes from the existing range of Council
activities include:
o
A more proactive approach to Enforcement
o
The adoption of House Improvement Zones
o
The development of a Home Improvement Agency
o
The use of loans to supplement grants
9. A number of the proposed measures included in the Strategy
remain to be fully developed. Further
development work will be conducted over the coming year.
CONSULTATION
12. Consultation has taken place with a wide range of interested
parties. This has been conducted
through questionnaires with past and existing grant recipients, elected
members, housing associations, etc. A
full list of consultees can be found in Annexe A.
FINANCIAL
IMPLICATIONS
13. The
Strategy sets out a costed programme of action over the next three years. The resources for 2003/4 are within existing
budgets. The resources for future years
are predicated on a similar level of resources being available as the current
financial year.
14. Officers
are currently in discussion with local financial institutions with
regard to the potential availability of additional loan
finance. This would supplement any
limitations on the Council’s own grant resources.
LEGAL
IMPLICATIONS
15. To be reported
OPTIONS
16. The Adoption of the Renewal Strategy opens up a range of
additional options for the Council in the way it relates to private sector
housing on the Island. The Strategy
builds on the existing policy of the Council to award grant assistance to those
in greatest need and places it within a broader context and links it more
closely to other corporate objectives.
EVALUATION/RISK
MANAGEMENT
18. The use of loans rather than grants presents a number of
potential risks in terms of repayments and defaults. Any future arrangements with financial institutions will be fully
evaluated to ensure the Council’s interests are safeguarded.
BACKGROUND
PAPERS
Regulatory Reform Order
2002
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Appendix 1 Housing Renewal Strategy
Appendix 2 Consultation
Appendix 3 Action Plan
Appendix 4 Housing Improvement Zones
Appendix 5 Consultation and Accountability
Appendix 6 Administration and Performance
Appendix 7 Housing Enforcement Policy
Appendix 8 Housing Stock Condition Survey (pages 1 and 4) (pages 2 and 3)
M PEARL
Head of Housing Services