Issue - meetings

Report of Councillor Bell (attached)

Councillor Canniford presented the report.  He noted that the strategy was an important and ambitious action plan to deliver affordable homes in sustainable neighbourhoods; improve and make the best use of existing homes and provide solutions, support and choice to those in housing need.

He added that the strategy cut across a number of teams and services including planning policy and the Local Plan and the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy.  He commented that the council was looking for 40% affordable housing within housing developments and for the standard of build to be much higher.

Members made comments, asked questions and received responses on the level of rental costs in Weston-s-Mare versus elsewhere in North Somerset; the relation of the strategy to the development of council-owned land; a request to update the rental values diagram and re-circulate to members; who decides what constitutes a “minor” decision; how the council will deliver better, more sustainable and affordable housing; how the council will ensure the quality of new build housing; how the council will bring back empty properties into use and the incentives that can be employed; the quality of some private rental properties and the support given to those who are homeless or sleeping rough.

Resolved:

(1) that the Executive approved the Housing Strategy 2022-2027 as set out in Annexe A of the report for publication and implementation and

(2) that the Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing, be given delegated authority to make any required minor changes to the strategy prior to publication and to agree regular updates.

Reasons for the decision:

As set out in the report and discussed above.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

As set out in the report and discussed above