Agenda item

Discussion:

Members considered a report which reviewed and assessed progress against

the targets in the current Housing Strategy.

The Chairman noted that Matt Gough, Head of Strategic Housing, would be leaving the Council soon to take up a new role at East Kent Housing Association. Matt had joined Medway Council in 2003 and one of his many highlights was the key part he played in improving the Strategic Housing Service from a zero star rating following an Audit Commission inspection to a two star service - the highest rating available. On behalf of the Committee the Chairman thanked Matt for his outstanding service and wished him well for the future. Matt thanked the Chairman for his kind words and said he had enjoyed his time with Medway and commented that the successes and achievements he had been part of would not have been possible without the dedicated team he had to support him.

A Member referred to what he considered to be a systematic problem with the process whereby landlords sought possession of properties through the use of Section 21 notices. Regardless of individual circumstances, the Council could only intervene at the end of the legal process after tenants had incurred costs. He asked what the Council was doing to make representations to change this legislation. The Head of Strategic Housing replied that the Council advised tenants who had received a Section 21 Notice that they should view this as a strong indication that the landlord intended to recover the property and should therefore look to find alternative accommodation. The Council was active in helping people do this, although some people unrealistically expected to be allocated a council property and did not engage. The Homelessness Reduction Bill was likely to change the powers and duties of local authorities in this regard and it was hoped that the changes would result in an improvement.

A Member referred to the high number of empty properties in Medway (approximately 3,000) and asked what was being done to reduce this number and help alleviate the shortage of affordable homes. The Head of Strategic Housing advised that the number of properties empty for more than 6 months was 1% of the total stock and this figure had improved in recent years.

Referring to the problem of street homelessness and rough sleeping in Medway, a Member commented that there was more the Council could be doing. At present the Council only increased the assistance available when it was forecast that the temperature would drop below zero degrees for three nights, and it was argued this intervention should happen sooner.  The Head of Strategic Housing advised that the Council’s approach reflected that in the national guidance on severe weather protocol but the Council also worked, alongside other partners and mental health workers, with rough sleepers during periods when the protocol did not apply. Some rough sleepers were very entrenched in that behaviour.

In response to a question about whether further external funding might be available as a result of the Government’s Autumn Budget Statement, Members were advised that it was not yet clear what funding would be available or how it would be distributed. Extra funding for affordable homes had been announced and the Council was awaiting detail of this and it would review options to access any additional funding.

A Member commented that, in his view, the Strategy was not aspirational enough and did not address the severe housing problems as identified by the recent Housing Task Group. There was the danger that the Strategy was offering false comfort and the targets identified needed to be on a much bigger scale to make a real impact.

Decision:

The Committee agreed to note the progress against the aims of the Housing Strategy.