Agenda, decisions and minutes

The following interests were declared:

The Portfolio Holder is asked to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 1 August 2013 as a correct record.

The Housing Portfolio Holder signed, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 August 2013, subject to the attendance of Councillor Val Barrett and Councillor Lynda Harford being recorded.

The Housing Portfolio Holder agreed to sell the land adjacent 70 Balsham Road, Linton on the open market, subject to planning permission for the development of one dwelling.

The Housing Portfolio Holder considered a report seeking to sell, on the open market, land adjacent to 70 Balsham Road, Linton.

The Head of Housing Strategy and Development supported the sale on the basis that it would be too costly for the Council to build a single property.

No Members present opposed the proposed sale.

The Housing Portfolio Holder agreed to sell the land adjacent to 70 Balsham Road, Linton on the open market, subject to planning permission for the development of one dwelling.

The Housing Portfolio Holder approved the content of the Design Guide, subject to minor modification,  enabling officers to introduce a consistent approach to the standards in new build Council properties

The Housing Portfolio Holder considered a report on the essential principles to follow in the design of the Council’s own affordable housing projects.

Darren Heffer from Saunders Boston, the Consultant retained by the Council to help develop the Design Guide, explained that the document was intended to be a general starting point from which site specific guidance  could be drawn up.

Councillor Lynda Harford cautioned against incorporating stairs into living areas because this served to reduce the amount of usable space.  The Portfolio Holder acknowledged this and said that flexibility was key, enabling details to vary in different situations.

Referring to the Code for Sustainable Homes, Councillor Ben Shelton questioned the cost of building to Code Level 4, and suggested that Code Level 3 might be more appropriate concentrating on high standards of insulation.  In reply, the Housing Portfolio Holder said it would be a false economy to keep costs down at the outset as future expectations could require greater cost in terms of upgrading the Code Level.

Those present discussed aspects of the Design Guide.  In particular, the Portfolio Holder explained that the intention was to minimise any on going maintenance liability for the Council.  The Housing Operational Services Manager explained that combi-boilers would not be installed because, if they failed for any reason, the user lost both heating and hot water.

Referring to paragraph 7.6 (smoke detectors), the Housing Portfolio Holder instructed officers to requires developers to install carbon monoxide alarms in all dwellings.

Referring to paragraph 9.3 (landscaping), the Portfolio Holder instructed officers to amend the width of paths from 1.2.metres to 1.5 metres in order to make them more accessible to wheelchair users.

Councillor Harford noted that highways should be designed to adoptable standards but urged officers to require such design to result in adoption by the Local Highways Authority as soon as possible.  Unadopted pieces of land should either be incorporated as garden land or made subject to a service charge.

The Housing Portfolio Holder approved the content of the Design Guide, subject to minor modification, enabling officers to introduce a consistent approach to the standards in new build Council properties

The Homelessness Review (February 2013), which has helped inform the Homelessness Strategy, is attached to the electronic version of this agenda on the Council’s website – visit www.scambs.gov.uk and follow ‘Your Council’.

The Housing Portfolio Holder:

·                Approved the Homeless Strategy and action plan for 2013-18 Appendix A and B

·                Approved the Discharging Duty Policy Appendix C

·                Approved the Reconnections Policy Appendix D as amended.

The Housing Portfolio Holder considered a report on the new Homeless Strategy for 2013-18 and associated policies.  He observed that South Cambridgeshire District Council had an excellent record of preventing homelessness in the first place.

The Head of Housing Advice and Options explained that the new strategy contained a set of actions to prevent homelessness and a set of actions to maximise the availability of temporary accommodation.  Those present discussed homelessness generally.

The Portfolio Holder asked about discharging the Council’s duty towards a homeless person.  The Head of Housing Advice and Options said that applicantssometimes bid for a property but then don’t accept it if successful.  In some circumstances the Council could then discharge its duty to that person/household.  The Portfolio Holder recognised the need to be practical whilst retaining an element of flexibility The Director of Housing said officers would monitor the situation and report back.  Those present discussed the relationship between the private rented sector and the Council’s homelessness duty

The Housing Portfolio Holder:

·                Approved the Homeless Strategy and action plan for 2013-18 Appendix A and B, subject to review in 12 months time

·                Approved the Discharging Duty Policy Appendix C

·                Approved the Reconnections Policy Appendix D as amended.

1.              The Housing Portfolio Holder approved the Policy on the use of Council housing as temporary accommodation at Appendix 1, and more specifically:

a)     The use of Licence Agreements pursuant to the Housing Act 1996 S188 (pending a homeless decision) and S190(2) (intentionally homeless).

b)     The use of a Non Secure Temporary Tenancy pursuant to S193 of the Housing Act 1996 where the Council has a duty to house until such time that suitable alternative accommodation can be found.

c)     The use of a Non Secure Temporary Tenancy where a former tenant has died or moved away and the remaining household has been given discretionary agreement to stay temporarily until more suitable accommodation can be found.

2.              The Housing Portfolio Holder gave delegated authority to the Director of Housing to amend the Tenancy Policy to specify the inclusion for the use of Licences and Non Secure Temporary Tenancies, as defined in the Policy at Appendix 1.

The Housing Portfolio Holder considered a report on a draft Policy setting out when council homes could be used as temporary accommodation and clarifying the terms upon which a Licence Agreement or a Non Secure Temporary Tenancy Agreement would be granted.

Those present supported the Policy and noted the significance of the Council having its own housing stock for this purpose.

The Housing Portfolio Holder approved the Policy on the use of Council housing as temporary accommodation at Appendix 1 of the report, and more specifically:

a)     The use of Licence Agreements pursuant to the Housing Act 1996 Section 188 (pending a homeless decision) and Section 190 (2) (intentionally homeless).

b)     The use of a Non Secure Temporary Tenancy pursuant to Section 193 of the Housing Act 1996 where the Council has a duty to house until such time that suitable alternative accommodation can be found.

c)     The use of a Non Secure Temporary Tenancy where a former tenant has died or moved away and the remaining household has been given discretionary agreement to stay temporarily until more suitable accommodation can be found.

The Housing Portfolio Holder gave delegated authority to the Director of Housing to amend the Tenancy Policy to specify the inclusion for the use of Licences and Non Secure Temporary Tenancies, as defined in the Policy at Appendix 1.

The Housing Portfolio Holder endorsed the service plan actions identified in this report amd listed below as options, as additions to the on-going projects listed at paragraph 11 of the report, requesting a report to a future meeting on the Housing Foyer.

The Housing Portfolio Holder considered a report updating him on the revised actions for the Affordable Homes Service Plan for 2014-15.

The Portfolio Holder noted that Priority 11 (Strategy review of homes of non traditional construction) would take place in June 2014 rather than in 2016 as stated in the report.

The Housing Portfolio Holder agreed to carry over from 2013-14 the following:

·       Development of neighbourhood teams and hub offices

·       Development of options to best meet the refurbishment needs of the Council’s stock including

o   A review of Wilford Furlong and

o   the Robinson Court (Gamlingay) redevelopment

·       Continuing to extend and broaden the pool of temporary accommodation including overseeing the completion of the hostel at Robson Court (Waterbeach)

·       Establishing a pilot scheme to set up the new Housing Company

The Housing Portfolio Holder agreed to add as Service Plan priorities the following

There was no written or verbal update from the Tenants Participation Group.  Upon hearing that the Group’s Chairman, Wendy Head, was ill, the Housing Portfolio Holder asked that his best wishes and those of fellow Councillors be passed on.

The Portfolio Holder will maintain, for agreement at each meeting, a Work Programme identifying all matters relevant to the Portfolio which it is believed are likely to be the subject of consideration and / or decision by the Portfolio Holder, or recommendation to, or referral by, the Portfolio Holder to Cabinet, Council, or any other constituent part of the Council.   The programme will be updated as necessary.  The Portfolio Holder will be responsible for the content and accuracy of the Work Programme.

Those present oted the Work Programme for the Housing Portfolio for the period up to October 2014.

19 March 2014 at 5.30pm

The next scheduled Housing Portfolio Holder meeting would take place on Wednesday 18 March 2014, starting at 5.30pm.