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HOUSING, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT – POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE |
11TH JULY 2023 |
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Housing Strategy 2023 - 28 Action Plan |
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Will this be a Key Decision?
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No
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Urgency |
Not Applicable |
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Final Decision-Maker |
Cabinet Member for Housing and Health |
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Lead Head of Service |
John Littlemore – Head of Housing and Regulatory Services |
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Lead Officer and Report Author |
Hannah Gaston – Housing and Inclusion Manager |
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Classification |
Public
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Wards affected |
All |
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Executive Summary |
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This report requests the Cabinet Member for Housing and Health formally adopts the Housing Strategy 2023 - 28 Action Plan (Appendix 1). The Housing Strategy was adopted by the Executive on 22 March 2023 and was used to inform the development of the attached Action Plan.
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Purpose of Report
Recommendation to Cabinet Member for decision
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Recommendation – This report makes the following recommendation to the committee:
That the Housing Strategy 2023-23 Action Plan at Appendix 1 to this report be recommended for adoption by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Health. |
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Housing Strategy 2023 - 28 Action Plan |
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1. CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS
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Issue |
Implications |
Sign-off |
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Impact on Corporate Priorities |
Accepting the recommendation will materially improve the Council’s ability to achieve the Homes and Communities Corporate Policy.
We set out the reasons other choices will be less effective in section 3 [available alternatives].
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Head of Housing & Regulatory Services |
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Cross Cutting Objectives |
The report recommendation supports the achievement of the objective to ensure the Health Inequalities are addressed and reduced.
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Head of Housing & Regulatory Services |
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Risk Management |
Contained within the body of the report.
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Head of Housing & Regulatory Services |
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Financial |
The proposals set out in the recommendation are all within already approved budgetary headings and so need no new funding for implementation.
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Section 151 Officer & Finance Team |
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Staffing |
We will deliver the recommendation with our current staffing.
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Head of Housing & Regulatory Services |
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Legal |
Acting on the recommendation is within the Council’s powers.
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Team Leader, Contentious and Corporate Governance |
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Information Governance |
The recommendation do not impact personal information (as defined in UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018) the Council processes. |
Senior Information Governance Officer |
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Equalities |
If some strategies are updated as part of the action plan, they may require an EqIA to be completed.
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Equalities & Communities Officer |
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Public Health
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We recognise that the recommendation will have a positive impact on population health or that of individuals.
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Housing and Inclusion Manager |
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Crime and Disorder |
There are no implications to Crime and Disorder
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Head of Housing & Regulatory Services |
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Procurement |
There is no implication to Procurement |
Head of Housing & Regulatory Services |
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Biodiversity and Climate Change |
The implications of this report on biodiversity and climate change have been considered and the Housing Strategy should ensure it aligns with the following actions of the Action Plan:
Action 1.2 Deliver policies that enable infrastructure for: · Low carbon transportation, · Active travel, and that · Facilitates high quality public transport connectivity in new developments and existing communities.
Action 1.4 Deliver Policy that ensures sustainable travel, such as bike racks, pool cars, electric vehicle charging, active travel, is integrated into all Maidstone Borough Council construction of new buildings (offices, housing, leisure facilities) and building acquisitions.
Action 3.1 Ensure Sustainability DPD as part of larger Development Plan requires on-site renewables on all types of new developments and identify indicators that align with strategic planning and monitor implementation.
Action 5.1 Deliver policy as part of design and sustainability DPD and future Development Plan evolution for long term climate change adaptation in new developments to flooding, heatwaves, and drought and ensure longer term climate impacts are being considered as part of planning and policy decisions. Identify indicators that align with strategic planning and monitor implementation.
Action 9.3 Deliver Policy that ensures sustainability criteria is used for all Maidstone Borough Council construction of new buildings (offices, housing, leisure facilities) and sustainability criteria is part of decision-making process for all Maidstone Borough Council building acquisitions, to ensure buildings owned by the council are sustainable, future proofed, and align with our net zero commitment.
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Biodiversity and Climate Change |
2. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
2.1 The Housing Strategy is a document that sets out the Council’s vision and intention to ensure that the Council is tackling the major housing challenges facing the district. It supports the strategic ambition of the Council to be a “Vibrant, prosperous, urban and rural community at the heart of Kent where everyone can realise their potential”.
2.2 The Housing Strategy contains three priorities;
· Priority 1: To deliver a mixture of housing types and tenures which are affordable and meet the needs of everyone in the borough.
· Priority 2: To ensure existing homes meet the decent homes standard, are energy efficient and safe, to enable healthy, independent living.
· Priority 3: To secure the very best support and housing outcomes for Maidstone’s most vulnerable groups
2.3 The Housing Strategy 2023 - 2028 was formerly adopted by the Executive on 22 March 2023. The Strategy document was used to inform the development of the Action Plan. The Action Plan brings together feedback from Officers, Members and Stakeholders including members of the public.
2.4 The Strategy was previously considered by the Communities, Housing & Environment PAC in February 2023 that assisted in the development of the Housing Strategy and its Action Plan (Appendix 1). Members are invited to consider the Action Plan and provide comment to the Cabinet Member.
3. AVAILABLE OPTIONS
3.1 The HHE PAC could decide not to recommend adoption of the Action Plan. But this is not recommended as this would not assist the Council to determine whether its Housing Strategy is having the positive impact that is contained within its vision to tackle the major housing challenges across the district.
3.2 The HHE PAC may recommend that the Cabinet Member adopts the new Housing Strategy Action Plan – with a view to implementing the actions and tackling the major challenges that face the local community across the district. This option is in the spirit of the Housing Strategy developed by the Council to achieve its key objective in the Strategic Plan.
4. PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 The preferred option is that the Housing, Health and Environment PAC recommends the Cabinet Member to adopt the Action Plan. This will support the Council’s aspiration in the Strategic Plan to:
· Reduce rough sleeping in a sustainable way
· Reduce the use of temporary accommodation for homeless families
· Improve housing through use of our statutory powers to promote good health and wellbeing
5. RISK
5.1 The risks associated with this proposal, including the risks if the Council does not act as recommended, have been considered in line with the Council’s Risk Management Framework. We are satisfied that the risks associated are within the Council’s risk appetite and will be managed as per the Policy.
5.2 A failure to adopt a robust action plan for the Housing Strategy would increase the risk of the Council not meeting its strategic and statutory duties in relation to its housing functions.
6. CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK
6.1 Consultation on the Housing Strategy commenced in winter 2021 with feedback from the public and our stakeholders actively sought through an on-line digital survey conducted by our Consultation and Engagement Officer. Consultation was also undertaken with Council Officers to ensure the golden threads contained within the Strategy were transferred to the Action Plan.
7. NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION
7.1 Once the Action Plan has been formally adopted it will be published on the website and regular monitoring will take place through reporting to the Cabinet Member for Housing & Health.
8. REPORT APPENDICES
· Appendix 1: Housing Strategy Action Plan
9. BACKGROUND PAPERS
Housing Strategy 2023 – 28