8.3

 

North Somerset Council

 

REPORT TO THE Housing Health & Social Care for Adults Policy & Scrutiny Panel

 

Date of Meeting: 27 JULY 2005

 

Subject of Report: PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING STRATEGY

 

Town or parish: ALL

 

Officer/Member presenting: SHANE DYKE/HOWARD EVANS

 

Key Decision: NO

 

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That members of the panel note the content of this report and consider how they would wish to engage in the process of producing the strategy document.

 

1.                Summary of Report

 

This report highlights the purpose of the Private Sector Housing Strategy, including intended outputs and milestones and highlights some of the areas to be addressed within the document.

 

2.                Policy

 

The Private Sector Housing Strategy will sit under the umbrella of the Housing Strategy and will reflect national, regional and local policies and priorities relating to Private Sector Housing.

 

3.                Details

 

The Private Sector Housing Strategy will outline the work of the Strategic Housing Service over the medium to long term and will set a framework for the improvement of conditions and the services provided to households within the private sector.

 

The Strategy will set the context for Private Sector Housing within North Somerset in light of new data gained from the Private Sector Stock Condition survey (due for completion October 2005). 

 

It will highlight areas of existing good practice and will identify areas where further improvements and concentration of limited resources are needed.

 

Little original research will be required as the strategy will draw together existing information already held by the Strategic Housing Teams and other key stakeholders into one document.

 

The strategy will cover the key areas that the Housing Standards Team and Housing Renewals Team impact upon including:

 

·        Housing Conditions

·        Assistance to vulnerable households

·        Energy Efficiency & Fuel Poverty

·        Houses in multiple occupation

·        Community Safety

·        Empty Homes

·        Gypsy and Travellers

 

The draft strategy will be complete by October 2005, with formal consultation taking place until December 2005.  It is anticipated that the strategy will be formally adopted in January 2006.

 

4.                Consultation

 

None at this stage as the strategy is still in its infancy; however full consultation will take place in the future with service users and key stakeholders in the form of questionnaires, focus groups and challenge workshops in addition to formal consultation on the draft strategy to ensure the strategy full reflects needs and aspirations. 

 

5.                Financial Implications

 

None at this stage

 

6.                Equality Implications

 

The strategy, when complete, will illustrate how housing policy will work toward social inclusion, respecting diversity, and it will illustrate work on sub-strategies in relation to the needs of black and ethnic minority households.

 

7.                Corporate Implications

 

As demonstrated in the corporate plan and directorate and service plans, housing cuts across all disciplines and can contribute to many corporate objectives, especially those related to health and well being.  The Private Sector Housing Strategy will draw together the priorities of other service areas and consider the contribution that the Strategic Housing Service can make to deliver improvements.

 

8.                Options considered

 

None

 

Author

 

Lisa Perry, Principal Housing Standards Officer (01275) 884110

 

Background Papers

 

None