Agenda and minutes

None.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2018 were approved as an accurate record.

Improvement Plan Objective 3 – Ensuring People Have Access to Suitable Accommodation

Attendees:

·        Head of Regeneration, Housing and Investment

·        Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing provided a brief overview of performance and advised Members of the positive of PAM/014 – Number of new homes created as a result of bringing empty properties back in to use, improving from Amber to Green since Quarter 2. 

The Head of Regeneration, Housing and Investment advised the Committee that:

-        PAM014 - Number of new homes created as a result of bringing empty properties back in to use, was previously raised as a concern but now Green, although it was showing Amber in the MI report due to a system administration error;

-        PSR/006 - Average Days non-DFG minor adaptions - was no longer being reviewed by Welsh Government;

-        PAM/015 - Adaptions DFG days delivery average – was Green and in the top quartile in Wales;

-        PAM/012 - The percentage of households for whom homelessness was prevented - despite Universal Credit having had a higher impact on delivery this has been managed to remain Green.

-        RIH/043 - Number of people approaching authority for housing advice and assistance -

had remained green.

Members asked the following:

·        Given rapid changes expected due to the removal of the Severn Crossing Tolls and resultant movements in the housing market, what contingencies are in place to cope with private rented properties being sold and private tenants given notice, thereby creating an increase for rented properties?  It was explained that NCC holds a 5 year supply of housing with expansions and sites in place, while other LA’s can’t meet that target for the supply of new build housing and developments through planning.  In addition NCC has been able to bring forward Affordable Housing Schemes from Welsh Government funding and also has reserve schemes in place, so when the funding becomes available the schemes can commence.  It is quite right to highlight the advice issue and a review of the service was underway.

·        Is there confidence that the need for social rented housing can be met with the changes coming? It was clarified that while not everyone on the list will be able to access social rented housing, they can be assisted to access other options.  It was clarified that the 7830 applications were for households not individuals, the total number of live applications.

·        Is there confidence that plans are in place for the impact of Private Landlords looking to sell their rental properties and make a significant profit in certain Wards of the City?  Arrangements were in place to meet all social landlords to develop a protocol as the community housing protocol needed reviewing.  As part of that meeting, there would be consideration of some schemes Welsh Government are offering and discussion of every element of the Authority’s relationship with Social Landlords starting with the Common Housing Register.

·        Given that private landlords are selling their rental properties while giving 2  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

The Overview & Scrutiny Officer advised the Committee that consideration of the Committee’s Draft Forward Work Programme was scheduled for consideration at the next meeting on 4 June 2018, when topics for inclusion would be discussed.

The Officer also drew Members’ attention to the pilot of the action sheet which detailed any information requested by Members at the previous Committee meeting held on 5 March 2018 and explained that this had been developed to track that all actions were completed.  Members would be emailed the information shortly and the action sheet would be updated for each meeting.

Actions:

The Committee approved the work programme for the next meeting on 6 June 2018 and the action sheet for tracking actions until completed.