NOTES OF EVIDENCE

Meeting

Policy Commission for Care, Health and Housing

Ref

He.PC.25/10/06

Date

25 October 2006

Time

18.00hrs

Place

Committee Room 1, County Hall, Newport, Isle of Wight

Purpose of meeting

Formal public meeting

Attendance

Commission

Cllrs Erica Oulton (Chairman), Cllr Geoff Lumley, Roger Mazillius, Win McRobert, Colin West and David Whittaker

Co-opted Members: Mr Robert Jones and Mr David White

Cabinet

Cllr Dawn Cousins

Secretariat

Cllr David Pugh

Other Councillors

Cllr George Brown

Officers

Ms Louise Biggs - Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Team

Mr Ashley Curzon – Acting Head of Regeneration

Mr Peter Griffiths – Acting Head of Housing

Ms Sarah Mitchell – Director of Adult and Community Services

Stakeholders

Ms Jane Wilshaw, Joint Director of Nursing and Patient and Public Involvement – Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust

Mr Morris Barton, development advisor.

Ms Nancy Ellacott – Primary Care PPIF Chair

Apologies

Cllr Margaret Webster

Agenda Items

1. To agree the notes of evidence arising at the meeting held on 27 September 2006

Notes agreed

2. Declarations of Interest.

Cllr David Whittaker declared an interest as a member of the Council’s Development Control Committee

4. To receive evidence on enquiry Affordable Housing (H2/06) from Mr Morris Barton and Mr Ashley Curzon

Mr Morris Barton

4.1 There has been an escalation of property prices, not matched by an increase in income. Most villages on the Island are expensive to buy houses in, young professionals are now finding it hard to get onto the property ladder. There is therefore a high need for low-cost homes.

4.2 There are many sites that have 14 units, just under the threshold for affordable housing provision.

4.3 Planners should allocate land on the basis of deliverability of a development.

4.4 There has been some criticism by developers that Section 106 negotiations take too long.

4.5 There are many developments where the density is too high.

4.6 It is debateable whether the Government’s Planning Gain Supplement (PGS) will speed up the planning process.

4.7 Any roof tax should be well-published so the system is clear and developers can budget accordingly.

4.8 Hotels should be converted to residential properties and if they benefit from this then a contribution should be made towards the infrastructure.

4.9 There is some feeling within the private sector that the Island Plan may restrict development. But it could also be seen as a new opportunity for the Island.

4.10 The market-place does not allow for the provision of a broad-base of housing stock, new policies must be developed to tackle this.

4.11 ‘Affordable housing’ should be redefined to include low cost market housing to buy and rent, as well as Registered Social Landlord (RSL) homes to buy (under shared ownership schemes) or rent.

4.12 The thresholds for affordable housing development should be removed and all developments should include affordable housing. The following payment scheme was suggested:

House Price	Payment for affordable housing
Over £500,000	£25,000
£350,000 to £500,000	£20,000
£250,000 to £350,000	£15,000
£200,000 to £250,000	£10,000
£150,000 to £200,000	£7000
2 bedroom apartment	£5000
1 bedroom apartment	£2000

4.13 It was recognised at the housing summit that there is a need for one-bed homes.

4.14 There needs to be better partnership working between the private sector and the council on housing. A Housing Trust could be used to provide low cost market homes to rent or buy in rural areas, through private developers on a not-for-profit basis.

4.15 Holiday homes should pay something toward affordable housing; this could be set at between £2000 and £5000 per unit.

4.16 Those who were born and have lived in a particular village should have the first choice of new, affordable housing within that location. Second choice should be given to those working within 5 miles of the village and third choice given to those living and working the Island. On this basis, the first qualification period would be one month, then two months and then three months, before it is placed on the open market.

Mr Ashley Curzon

4.17 The Unitary Development Plan (UDP) was produced within a different housing market context; including an identified need for a large amount of rented accommodation. The Island Plan provides an opportunity to make new, more flexible policies, which should be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they are in line with the current housing market.

4.18 There is a tendency to rely on windfall sites for the provision of affordable homes. Through the Island Plan the Council can ensure that all developments contribute to affordable housing.

4.19 If there are a lot of small developments being submitted for planning permission that do not contribute to affordable housing, should these all be approved?

4.20 The local authority usually asks for a higher contribution to affordable housing if the houses are built off-site.

4.21 The post of Section 106 officer for the council has been advertised.

4.22 The development process needs to be clearer so private developers are aware of all the costs involved.

Mr Peter Griffiths

4.23 There will be a private developer’s forum set-up to ensure a constant dialogue with private sector housing providers.

4.24 The Housing needs survey will be completed through telephone interviews over a one month period, starting in November.

4.25 The Housing strategy will be produced by the end of December 2006

4.26 There is a deposit scheme for young people wishing to rent a property.

6. Other information

5.1 The Patient and Public Involvement Forum (PPIF) updated the Commission on their new arrangements. There was now only one PPIF for the new PCT: Nancy Ellacott was elected Chair and Robert Jones was elected vice-chair.

5.2 The Commission were informed that the new post for Director of Public Health and Medical advisor would be 80% Public Health and 20% medical advisor.

5.3 The commission thanked Jane Wilshaw for all her hard work with the commission and wished her luck with her new job. Ed Macalister-Smith will be taking on the role as PPI link for the time-being.

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