PAPER D
Purpose
: for Decision
REPORT
TO THE EXECUTIVE
Date : 17 DECEMBER 2003
Title : HOUSING STRATEGY 2003-8
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR SOCIAL
SERVICES AND HOUSING
IMPLEMENTATION DATE : April 2004
1.
To consider and agree the Housing Strategy
statement. A copy of the Housing
Strategy has been emailed to members of the Executive and a copy has been
placed in the members room.
2.
This is not a
confidential item.
BACKGROUND
3.
All local authorities are required to produce an
annual Housing Strategy that sets out the needs within the locality together
with a series of proposals indicating how these needs will be addressed. The Housing Strategy has traditionally been
the vehicle used by the Government through the ODPM for determining the capital
allocations to be granted to authorities.
4.
It is the aim of the Government Office for the South
East (GOSE) to achieve a position that all local authority housing strategies
in their region meet the `fit for purpose’ standard by April 2004. This is in contrast with the position last
year where no SE strategy met this criterion.
5.
It has been agreed with GOSE that the Isle of Wight
Housing Strategy will be submitted in draft before Christmas. This will give sufficient time for them to
provide feedback to enable any deficiencies to be addressed. As such, the strategy document attached to
this report remains a draft, subject to final consultation. However, as the document has been subject to
on-going consultation throughout the development process, it is not anticipated
that there will be major changes.
6.
The final document will be published along with a
separate Technical Annexe, which members will see referred to as part 2
within the body of the text. This will
contain the technical detail to underpin and provide further detail to the main
strategy document.
7.
The Housing Strategy is the key strategic document for
the Island focussing on the needs and aspirations of local households. As such it is one of the major vehicles for
delivering the corporate objective of “Improving health, housing and the
quality of life for all”.
8.
The need for decent, affordable housing is also one of
the key objectives identified in the Community Strategy and underpins many of
the objectives set out corporately. The
availability of suitable housing is key to the delivery of health, education,
and social care targets.
9.
The local strategies are also expected to reflect the
Regional Housing Strategy (RHS), which has been developed recently by the newly
established Regional Housing Board. The
RHS sets out a series of key priorities, each of which is fully addressed and
responded to within the Island Housing Strategy.
10.
The Housing Strategy attached is built upon the approaches
and commitments agreed in the earlier development of the Homelessness Strategy
and Housing Renewal Strategy. Members
approved these in July and June respectively.
These three strategic documents will be further supplemented by the
development of a Supported Housing Strategy over the next six months.
CONSULTATION
11.
There has been widespread consultation in the
development of the Housing Strategy.
This has involved an initial seminar in July attended by over 80
delegates from a wide range of representation, including members, private
developers, voluntary agencies, government bodies and other corporate
representation.
12.
A Strategy Steering Group comprising key stakeholders,
including members, IOW Economic Partnership, Planning Services, ROCC, the RCC,
Housing Associations and the PCT has supplemented this.
13.
A further consultation forum with housing association
tenants is planned for the beginning of December.
14.
Alongside these mechanisms, the initial part of the
strategy has been sent to a range of individuals and organisations for comments
related to approach or detailed content.
15.
Members will also be aware that the Housing Strategy
is the overarching document, which also encompasses three more specific
strategies relating to Homelessness, Housing Renewal and Supported
Housing. The first two of these have
already been developed following further consultation. The Supported Housing Strategy will be
developed.
FINANCIAL/BUDGET
IMPLICATIONS
16.
There are a number of major financial implications
attached to housing activity on the Island.
The Homelessness and Housing Renewal Strategies already adopted by
members included costed action plans, and these have been incorporated within
the Housing Strategy.
17.
The financial implications of addressing the various
housing needs within the strategy are outlined fully in the Implementation Plan
in Section 5. The required levels of
expenditure are offset where appropriate with expected income or the potential
income generation opportunities. The
current indications are that revenue implications can be fully met subject to
the outcome of Service Plan bids and bids to the ODPM for further resources.
18.
At the time of submitting the Housing Strategy for
members’ consideration, the outcome of the Service Planning process remains
unknown, as does the result of a bid for £180,000 to the Bed and Breakfast
Unit. Similarly, we still await
notification from GOSE about our capital allocation for 2004/5 and from the
Regional Housing Board regarding the ADP funding for the same period.
19.
As such, a number of the proposed targets are
predicated on receiving anticipated levels of funding through these
sources. Should we not receive the
expected amounts, we will either have to revise our targets or seek alternative
forms of funding.
20.
There is less certainty relating to capital
funding. This is due in part to the
change to Regional funding and the lack of clarity of how this might
operate. However, it is relatively easy
to adjust schemes to take account of available funding.
LEGAL
IMPLICATIONS
21.
The duty to set up a Housing Strategy is contained in
S87 of the Local Government Act 2003.
Many of the functions covered by the Strategy are the subject of
statutory requirements in terms of delivering outcomes.
22.
These are particularly apparent in the areas of
Housing Renewal and Homelessness, where the Council has very clearly laid down
responsibilities for responding to articulated needs.
23.
For homelessness, in particular, the Office of the
Deputy Prime Minister has recently announced its intention to make it unlawful
for local authorities to place households with children in bed and breakfast
for more than six weeks.
24.
As this strategy is a replacement/alternative to the
housing investment programme, under Article 4 of the Council’s Constitution,
the decision has to be approved by Full Council.
OPTIONS
25.
The Housing Strategy is, in effect the outcome of a
detailed set of option appraisals. The
content of the document is a collection of actions and commitments, which have
either been to members previously or remain to be further developed.
26.
The production of a Housing Strategy is not optional,
it is a statutory requirement.
27.
Each of the proposals within the Housing Strategy has
been the subject of a risk appraisal which is set out within the document. The mechanisms for ensuring effective
delivery of the targets proposed are also fully outlined within the strategic
document.
|
RECOMMENDATIONS 28.
To recommend to Full Council that the Housing
Strategy be approved for submission to the ODPM. |
BACKGROUND
PAPERS
29.
Isle of Wight Housing Strategy 2003-6
30.
Regional Housing Strategy 2004-6
31.
GOSE feedback on 2002 Housing Strategy
32.
Housing Strategy Matrix - Penningtons
Contact
Point : Martyn Pearl 823666
|
M
PEARL Head
of Housing Services |
G KENDALL
Portfolio Holder forSocial Services and Housing
|