There is a disgracefully large number of long-term empty housing throughout the Medway Towns, artificially adding unnecessarily to the local housing shortage.
There is also what is believed to be an under estimation of the number of homeless people who are sleeping dangerously rough in various parts of the Medway Towns, whilst some of the aforementioned dwellings, which ought to have been acquired by the local authority and put to good use, are allowed in some instances to fall into dereliction.
One might be inclined to wonder how many more of these unfortunate people will have to die or be brought close to death as a result of their circumstances before Medway Council provides practical help other than supposedly offering so-called ‘advice’.
Can the Portfolio Holder spell out exactly what practical help is being provided at this moment, including plans for when winter hits them again?
Minutes:
“There is a disgracefully large number of long-term empty housing throughout the Medway Towns, artificially adding unnecessarily to the local housing shortage.
There is also what is believed to be an under estimation of the number of homeless people who are sleeping dangerously rough in various parts of the Medway Towns, whilst some of the aforementioned dwellings, which ought to have been acquired by the local authority and put to good use, are allowed in some instances to fall into dereliction.
One might be inclined to wonder how many more of these unfortunate people will have to die or be brought close to death as a result of their circumstances before Medway Council provides practical help other than supposedly offering so-called ‘advice’.
Can the Portfolio Holder spell out exactly what practical help is being provided at this moment, including plans for when winter hits them again?”
Councillor Doe thanked Mr Jeacock for his question. He referred to the question where it stated ‘the disgracefully large number of long term empty housing’. Councillor Doe informed Mr Jeacock that when he had first asked this question four years ago, Councillor Doe had reported that the number of long term empty homes had fallen to 1.3% of the housing stock, which was much lower than the national average. Councillor Doe stated that he was pleased to say that this was now under 1% - 0.97% of the housing in Medway was considered long term vacant.
Councillor Doe stated that this did not mean that there were an awful lot of houses which could instantly be occupied by suitable people because many of those properties may be subject to legal dispute, for example where someone had died and there were probate issues. There was also the issue that where properties could be awaiting some treatment, such as modernisation. Therefore, there were many different reasons why properties may be empty.
He stated that the Council encouraged and took steps to ensure that as many empty properties as possible were recycled.
Councillor Doe also referred to the number of rough sleepers in Medway and confirmed, that as part of the Government’s Annual Rough Sleeper Assessment, the Council undertook an actual count (as opposed to estimates which were done by some local authorities). As part of this count, the Council used information provided by those working in the sector or who would encounter those sleeping rough. The last assessment took place in November 2015, and 14 people were found sleeping rough.
Councillor Doe stated that he would accept that it was likely that there may be more, but it would not be possible to investigate every single corner of Medway. He stated that it would be quite wrong to suggest that the Council did not offer practical help and assistance. This was done through a range of means where the Council provided and commissioned accommodation. Financial assistance and advice may also be appropriate.
He concluded by stating that the Council very much cared about the homeless and he believed that the Council provided, with its partners, a good service, and the Council would continue to seek to improve it.