To receive a report on the Affordable Housing delivery programme.

The Committee noted a report on the delivery programme for affordable housing from 2009/2011.  The Housing Needs and Development Manager reported that there was a shortage of affordable housing in Herefordshire. As at the 1^st July 2009 there were 4,863 households on the Home Point waiting list for housing and the Council had been experiencing high levels of demand for homelessness and housing advice services due to associated housing stress.

The Housing Needs and Development Team (HNDT) were responsible for increasing the supply of affordable housing through a wide range of activities. Located within Strategic Housing Services, the team work alongside the Homelessness and Housing Advice Team, Private Sector Housing and Home point to ensure that the housing needs of vulnerable groups were met. Some of the solutions offered by Strategic Housing ranged from grants to improve properties from small repairs through to adaptations which can help someone remain living independently in their own home. In many instances, therefore, Strategic Housing interventions can resolve housing needs without requiring a person to move home. However, there was an overriding need for more affordable housing within the County.

The priority to deliver affordable housing was reflected within the County’s Sustainable Community Strategy, the Council’s Corporate Plan and there was an agreed Local Area Agreement (LAA) target to deliver more affordable homes focussed on National Indicator 155 (Number of additional affordable homes acquired and built).  The Council had agreed LAA targets under National Indicator 155 with the Government Office for the West Midlands (GOWM): 200 homes for 2008/9, 220 for 2009/10 and 275 for 2010/11. During 2008/9, 208 affordable homes were built or acquired, of which Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) provided 53% with 47% provided by Private Developers and Low Cost Home Ownership options.

In order to deliver against the agreed LAA Target of 220 houses for 2009/10, a number of approaches were being taken.  These included contributions from property developers, in the form of completed units through the planning system.  Contributions from Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) who provided for 100% affordable housing with grant input primarily from the Homes and Communities Agency and the RSL’s own capital reserves. Bringing Empty properties back into use also contributed to meeting the needs of local people, although this could include open market housing in order to ensure that the housing stock was increased, and to address a range of housing needs.

In the ensuing discussion, the following points were made:

·              A Member said that his constituents were desperate for more and improved social housing, and it was important that the public should be informed of the work that was being undertaken.

·              That whilst the Council had a small Housing Team, it did recognise the scale of the problems that it faced over the next three years, and was working to address these needs.

·              That a survey of land banks in the County had been undertaken, and the results were being analysed.  Builders holding significant land banks were not building houses at the moment.  The Council was in discussion with land bank holders in order to encourage the building of affordable housing on new developments. 

RESOLVED:  

That:  

            a)      The report be noted.

         and;

b)      That a report on the various schemes that the Council ran to alleviate homelessness should be presented to the meeting on 14 December 2009.