Minutes:
Empty Property Strategy
Committee considered a report in relation to the development of a draft Empty Property Strategy 2021-2024.
The current Empty Property Strategy was a joint document with NEDDC but the new strategy would be a Bolsover only document in line with the Council’s visions and aims.
The draft Empty Property Strategy 2021-2024 set out the Council’s objectives in relation to bringing empty properties in the District back into use. It would enable the Council to implement a raft of measures to reduce the number of long term empty properties resulting in additional housing units, additional New Homes Bonus, increase in council tax income and greater community sustainability which contributed to the delivery of the Council’s Growth Strategy.
In November 2019 there were approximately 750 properties in the District which had been empty for more than 6 months. These properties represented a wasted resource and were the main focus of the new empty property strategy.
The strategy tied together the three main strands of Empty Property work: advice, assistance and enforcement, and presented a framework for co-ordinated work in the shape of an Empty Property Action Plan. The strategy would also have a key role in helping to secure potential external funding for housing related projects across the District.
A table in the report showed potential timeframes for the development and implementation of the strategy, however, this may be subject to change due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
A Member noted that as discussed earlier in the meeting, target G11 for 2021-2024 had been halved from 10 to 5 and as the strategic objective of the Strategy was to bring empty properties back in to use, he queried if any consideration had been given to not have an empty property strategy given that it was intensive but with limited results. The Joint Housing Strategy & Growth Manager replied that empty properties were a blight on the area and could spread, they were also a magnate for problems such as antisocial behaviour. He added that although the previous target had failed, in excess of 10 units were brought back into use, i.e, 3 houses had been turned into 6 flats.
Moved by Councillor Tom Munro and seconded by Councillor Jen Wilson
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
Housing Strategy
Committee was asked to note that the Housing Strategy document would be developed concurrently with the Empty Property Strategy
The Housing Strategy set out the Council’s strategic framework to meet the District’s housing and housing related support needs.
The previous Housing Strategy was a joint document with Economic Development. Whilst the two departments worked closely together it had been agreed that the strategies should be written as two separate documents.
The Council’s vison for housing would steer the Strategy and focus on the Council’s key priorities whilst having due regard to local and national policy.
The Strategy formed a plan on how the Council would work with partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors to enable housing growth across all sectors, and the quality and range of housing to meet resident’s needs in the District, including housing and support for the most vulnerable. The strategy would also have a key role in helping to secure potential external funding for housing related projects across the District.
A table in the report showed the potential timeframes for the development and implementation of the Strategy, however this may be subject to change due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Consultation would be carried out at various stages throughout the development process with internal and external organisations, including public, private and voluntary sectors.
Moved by Councillor Tom Munro and seconded by Councillor Jen Wilson
RESOLVED that the report be noted.