Communities, Housing and Environment Committee

20 June 2017

Is the final decision on the recommendations in this report to be made at this meeting?

Yes

 

Maidstone Housing Strategy 2016-2020 Annual Update

 

Final Decision-Maker

CommunityCommunities, Housing and Environment Committee

Lead Head of Service

John Littlemore, Head of Housing and Community Services

Lead Officer and Report Author

Tony Stewart, Homechoice Team Leader

Classification

Non-exempt

Wards affected

All wards

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee:

1.    That the Committee acknowledge the work undertaken during the first year of the Maidstone Housing Strategy 2016 – 2020.

2.    That the Committee note the update of progress made in achieving the stated aims of the three Key Priority Themes highlighted in the Maidstone Housing Strategy as detailed in Appendix A.

 

 

 

This report relates to the following corporate priorities:

·         Keeping Maidstone Borough an attractive place for all

·         Securing a successful economy for Maidstone Borough

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

CommunityCommunities, Housing and Environment Committee

20 June 2017



Maidstone Housing Strategy 2016-2020 Annual Update

 

 

 

1.         PURPOSE OF REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

1.1      This report is updating the Committee on the work undertaken during the first year of the current Maidstone Housing Strategy.

 

1.2      The Maidstone Housing Strategy has three Key Priority Themes which form the action plan.  Each priority has several stated outcomes and an update is being provided on the progress of each one.

 

 

2.         INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

2.1      The Housing Strategy is an overarching plan that guides the council and its partners in tackling the major housing challenges facing the borough.  It sets out the priorities and outcomes that we wish to achieve and provides a clear strategic vision. The Strategy contributes to the council’s corporate priorities for Maidstone ‘to keep the Borough an attractive place for all and to secure a successful economy.

 

2.2      The Maidstone Housing Strategy is also intrinsically linked with other plans and strategies of the council, most notably the Council’s Strategic Plan and the Local Plan. The updated Strategic Plan has identified “a home for everyone” as one of three key priorities for 2017/18.  The Local Plan provides the framework to guide the future development of the borough, and plans for the provision of homes with supporting infrastructure.

 

2.3      The ambition behind the Housing Strategy is to ensure that all people in the Borough have access to good quality homes that are affordable for them and meet their needs.

 

2.4      The Maidstone Housing Strategy was adopted in March 2016.  As part of the agreed monitoring process, an annual report is written to provide an update on progress towards achieving the stated aims of the key priority areas and to deliver the strategy’s action plan.  This is the first of these annual updates.

 

2.5      The three Key Priority Themes of the Maidstone Housing Strategy are as follows:

 

Priority 1: Enable and support the delivery of quality homes across the   housing market to develop sustainable communities.

 

Priority 2: Ensure that existing housing in Maidstone Borough is safe, desirable and promotes good health and well-being.

 

Priority 3: Prevent homelessness; secure the provision of appropriate accommodation for homeless households and supporting vulnerable people.

 

 

3.         PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

3.1     The report is for information purposes only.  The Committee is to note the update of progress made in achieving the stated aims of the three Key Priority Themes in the Maidstone Housing Strategy as detailed in Appendix A.

 

4.        CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

4.1      The Maidstone Housing Strategy was formulated after an extensive consultation process with both internal and external stakeholders. 

 

4.2      The strategy was adopted by full Council in March 2016 after reports were submitted through the CommunityCommunities, Housing and Environment Committee as well as the Policy and Resources Committee.

 

 

 

5.        CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

The adoption of the housing strategy has assisted in the delivery of the council’s corporate priorities.

John Littlemore, Head of Housing and Community Services

 

Risk Management

The delivery of this strategy depends upon the effectiveness of partnership working between the statutory and voluntary sector and through listening to and involving a range of service users. 

John Littlemore, Head of Housing and Community Services

 

Financial

Delivering the Housing Strategy has significant financial implications for the Council. An additional £235,000 growth has been built into the budget in 2017/18 for temporary accommodation.  The five year capital programme includes a significant housing component including £3.9 million for housing investments in 2017/18.

Section 151 Officer & Finance Team

 

Staffing

Appropriate staffing resources are required to be in place to deliver the outcomes and actions for the strategy.

John Littlemore, Head of Housing and Community Services

 

Legal

None identified.

Donna Price, Interim Deputy Head of Legal

 

Equality Impact Needs Assessment

The Housing Strategy potentially affects all population sections and groups.  An EQIA was carried out before the new Housing Strategy was adopted.

Anna Collier, Policy & Information Manager

Environmental/Sustainable Development

N/A

 

Community Safety

N/A

 

Human Rights Act

N/A

 

Procurement

N/A

 

Asset Management

N/A

 

 

6.         REPORT APPENDICES

 

The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the report:

·         Appendix A: Priorities, Outcomes and Actions – April 2017 Update

 

 

7.         BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

·         Maidstone Housing Strategy 2016 – 2020