Issue - meetings

Verbal update on Housing matters.

The chairman reported on a meeting he had attended with Mr Tredinnick, MP, along with Councillors Bill and Hall and Sharon Stacey to express concerns in relation to the Housing Bill, particularly the impact of the rent reduction, the move to short term tenancies and the sale of high value voids.

The MP had indicated that the priority of the government was to encourage owner occupier status and not to encourage council housing, but it was acknowledged that the changes would have a huge impact on this, and most other, authorities.

During debate, the following requests were made:

·         It was felt that the council should lobby at every stage of the process, including to the House of Lords

·         A survey should be undertaken to ascertain whether the majority of people preferred to rent than own anyway. It was suggested that this consultation could take place alongside that on the Corporate Plan

·         The representations that Cllr Sutton had made should be included in the authority’s challenges

·         The Scrutiny Commission be kept updated on progress.

Members were reminded that the Bill actually related to Housing and Planning, and it was questioned whether the council should challenge any aspects relating to planning. Members asked for a report on the implications of the planning aspects of the Bill.

RESOLVED –

(i)            Lobbying and pressure be maintained as the Bill progresses;

(ii)           The Scrutiny Commission be kept updated on progress;

(iii)          A further report on the planning aspects of the Bill be brought to a future meeting.

A report is attached which informs the Commission of national housing policy developments and their impacts.

Members were advised of national housing policy developments including reduction in social housing rent, ‘Pay to Stay’ policy, Right to Buy for registered social housing tenants, sale of high value voids and review of lifetime tenancies and the implications for the authority of these policy changes. During presentation and discussion, the following points were made:

·         The Housing Investment Strategy would be brought to January’s Scrutiny Commission

·         It had been suggested that tenants earning more than £30,000 would have to pay market rents as part of the ‘Pay to Stay’ policy, which would mean it would be cheaper to purchase a property

·         Details of the policy regarding sale of high value voids were being awaited and required each authority to submit details of housing stock values to enable the Government to make that decision

·         It was likely that such high value voids would be in the rural areas, where the authority had a need for housing

·         The suggested rent reduction policy would undermine the decision made (prompted by the Government) in 2013 to increase rents, which this authority had done to a lower level than recommended by the Government

·         The removal of ‘lifetime tenancies’ had devastated the farming industry and would cause serious detriment to council tenants and also lead to tenants not wishing to invest in and improve their properties

·         Reports would be taken to Executive or Council should any amendments to policy be required when the detail of the Bill were known.

It was requested that the MP be invited to attend a meeting to listen to a discussion on this matter to understand how the policies would impact this authority and the residents of the borough. The Leader agreed to arrange this. It was agreed that a working group be set up to meeting with the MP to consist of three Conservative councillors, two Liberal Democrat and one Labour.