Agenda item

(a)  That the draft Housing Strategy 2016-2021 be approved.

(b)  That the Strategy be issued for consultation with residents, statutory agencies, the voluntary sector and other stakeholders.

(c)  That the Strategy be brought back to Cabinet after the consultation for final approval.

The Commissioner for Housing & Urban Renewal summarised the draft Housing Strategy 2016-2021.  The Cabinet was asked to approve the draft as the basis of consultation with residents, statutory agencies, the voluntary sector and other stakeholders before coming back to Members for final approval.

The strategy set out the priorities, opportunities and challenges for housing in Slough and had been developed alongside the preparatory work for the Local Plan.  There were five themes in the strategy – new housing supply, private sector, council homes, homelessness and housing need and special needs and vulnerable groups.  The key features of the action plan included enabling the provision of 927 new housing units per year in line with the Strategic Housing Market Assessment; a commitment that the Council deliver an average of 200 housing units per year over the life of the strategy, including affordable housing; a rigorous enforcement regime and, where necessary prosecutions, against rogue landlords; an end to the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for families with children and additional measures to meet the housing needs of care leavers and up to three extra care schemes.

The draft would be subject to a consultation exercise in December and January.  Commissioners emphasised the importance of ensuring the consultation was comprehensive and inclusive, and some of the detailed plans were noted including a housing conference and an additional meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 20^th December.  The Cabinet commented on a number of aspects of the draft including the balance between supporting the majority of responsible landlords in the borough whilst addressing the problem of rogue landlords; the impacts of population growth and major infrastructure projects on housing affordability; and the actions in themes 4 and 5 to support vulnerable people.  The commitment to end the placement of children with families in bed and breakfast accommodation was welcomed and the Commissioner stated that the target was that no families would be in B&Bs by March 2017.

Speaking under Rule 30, Councillors Morris and Swindlehurst made a number of comments on various aspects of draft strategy which the Interim Strategic Director responded to in detail.  The issues raised included the clarity of the vision for tenants on the options appraisal for the Council housing stock; governance of the proposed housing companies; consultation arrangements; housing for care leavers; consistency with the Local Plan on housing numbers; the proposed landlord registration scheme; funding for new council homes and the balance of tenures.  The Leader encouraged Members to actively contribute to the development of the strategy through the consultation process.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the Cabinet agreed to approve the draft Housing Strategy for consultation.

Resolved –

(a)  That the draft Housing Strategy 2016-2021 be approved.

(b)  That the Strategy be issued for consultation with residents, statutory agencies, the voluntary sector and other stakeholders.

(c)  That the Strategy be brought back to Cabinet after the consultation for final approval.