The Head of Housing and Community Services presented a report on the Maidstone Housing Strategy 2016-2020 Annual Update.

The Committee noted the work undertaken during the first year of the current Maidstone Housing Strategy and the three Key Priority Themes which formed the action plan.

In response to questions from Members, the Head of Housing and Community Services advised that:-

·  The Maidstone Health and Wellbeing Group was chaired by the Council’s Chief Executive and there were various sub-groups that focussed on specific areas to deliver the Health Inequalities Action Plan.

·  Following the recent tragic events at Grenfell Towers in London the Chief Executive had been in contact with Kent Fire and Rescue and other partners to ensure that necessary checks were being carried out on high rise blocks of flats in the borough and fire safety plans were in place.  Members asked for the results of this to be reported back once it had reached a certain stage.

·  The Council had recently acquired 8 properties for the homeless and another 5 were nearing completion.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the work undertaken during the first year of the Maidstone Housing Strategy 2016-2020 be acknowledged.

2.  The progress made in achieving the stated aims of the three Key Priority Themes highlighted in the Maidstone Housing Strategy as detailed in Appendix A to the report of the Head of Housing and Community Services be noted.