Agenda item

The Housing Strategy and Development Officer presented the report to the Committee.

The quality of people’s homes was strongly related to economic prosperity and minimising the adverse effects of poor housing remained a major challenge.

Damp, mould, cold, and overcrowded conditions could lead to physical illness.  There was also increasing evidence poor housing conditions could seriously affect people’s mental health and sense of wellbeing.

The percentage of households who owned their own homes in the District fell from 67.0% to 66.0% between 2011 to 2021.  17.2% of households rented privately in 2021, up from 13.0% in 2011.  Population growth between 2011 and 2021 was 5.8%.  16.3% of households lived in socially rented housing in 2021 compared to 18.2% in 2011.

The Housing Strategy 2024-2029 aimed to deliver the corporate priorities related to the Housing aim as set out in the Council’s corporate plan.

The Strategy’s 4 priorities (detailed in the attached Appendix 1) were:

• Priority 1: Providing Good Quality Housing;
• Priority 2: Enabling Housing Growth (the Senior Devolution Lead for Planning Policy, Strategic Growth and Housing and Principal Planning Policy Officer were in attendance to provide additional information to the Committee on this if required);
• Priority 3: Supporting Vulnerable and Disadvantaged People; and,
• Priority 4: Maintaining and improving property and housing management standards and ensuring that standards and living conditions in the District contributed towards better health outcomes for all.

Following approval of the Strategy in 2024, a range of activity had progressed.

The Strategy was delivered in partnership across Housing Management, Housing Options, Environmental Health, and Planning Policy.

Progress against each of the Strategy’s 4 priorities were detailed in the attached Appendix 2.

Key achievements for Priority 1 included: completion of the Stock Condition Survey by Savills – 92.7% surveyed; refresh of the Tenant Engagement Strategy following the Consumer Standards inspection; completion of Woburn House, Blackwell; completion of phase 1 Woburn Close, Blackwell; and the commencement of Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund programme.

Key achievements for Priority 2 included: maintaining a 5-year housing supply (currently 5.69 years’ worth); the review of Custom and Self-Build supply and demand in relation to October 2025 had been completed (the analysis identified there was a shortfall in the supply of CSB sites within the District); etc.

Key achievements for Priority 3 included: ongoing delivery of the Derbyshire Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2022-2027; active partner in the quarterly Derbyshire Homelessness Forum; development and launch of Street Support Derbyshire; development and adoption of the Housing Domestic Abuse Policy; etc.

Key achievements for Priority 4 included: development and launch of in-house Design and Contract Management Service for Disabled Facilities Grants; ongoing delivery of Affordable Warmth Coordinator post; review of Council webpages signposting advice, guidance and grants for home energy improvements; ongoing delivery of Private Sector Housing Strategy; etc.

The immediate plans for future delivery of Priority 1 included: completion of the stock condition survey on outstanding properties and a roll-out of an ongoing approach to stock surveys; approval and implementation of a revised 30-year Housing Revenue Account Business Plan; completion of the build at Woburn Close, Blackwell; completion of the build at Alder Close, Shirebrook; etc.

The immediate plans for future delivery of Priority 2 included: approval of the Shirebrook Growth Plan; complete further analysis to inform the Council’s approach to supply for Custom and Self-Build sites; completion of a benchmarking exercise on neighbouring and good practice approaches to tackling empty homes; and development of approach to enable the Council to address a minimum of 12 empty homes per annum.

The immediate plans for future delivery of Priority 3 included: achieve accreditation of Bolsover Lifeline Services; and development and implementation of a Supported Housing Strategy for the area.

The immediate plan for future delivery of Priority 4 was the successful delivery of year 1 Warm Homes: Local Grant programme.

A Member was always impressed at stakeholder engagement efforts made by the Council and thanked the officer for the report.  Reservations were expressed on the use of the term “vulnerable” which could hold negative connotations (it could be seen as disempowering or have the Council unintentionally label someone as “weak”).  It was asked if the Council could consider using an alternate descriptor / language.

Moved by Councillor Jeanne Raspin and seconded by Councillor Rita Turner

RESOLVED that Members review the attached Delivery Plan, progress made to date, and plans for the immediate future.