Agenda item

To consider the report of the Portfolio Holder for People – Adult Social Care, Health and Housing and any recommendation(s) of the People and Health Overview Committee of 30 November 2023.

Please note: the report to the People and Health Overview Committee of 30 November 2023 is attached.  Their recommendation(s) and any extract minute will be circulated prior to the Cabinet meeting as a supplement to the agenda.

The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Housing presented the report regarding the Housing Strategy. This was a high-level document setting out the vision, aims and objectives for housing in Dorset. The council had a statutory duty relating to housing, and key roles included encouraging, supporting, and enabling partners and other organisations to deliver good and effective housing solutions. The Strategy was broad and recognised the fact that good housing was essential for a good life, and enabled people, families, and communities to thrive. 

In presenting the Housing Strategy for recommendation to Full Council for approval, the Portfolio Holder addressed the comments made by the People and Health Overview Committee of 30 November 2023 and their proposed amendments to the cover report. 

The Portfolio Holder confirmed that she was content to support these amendments, with the addition of the following sentence after 2.3. “This is to maximise the delivery of new affordable housing and to make the best use of the development capacity, expertise and funding capacity within Registered Providers”.

The Portfolio Holder confirmed that the People and Health Overview Committee supported the approval of the Housing Strategy and its objectives.

She therefore proposed that the Housing Strategy and its objectives be recommended to Full Council.

The proposed amendments to the cover report and the recommendation to Full Council was seconded by Cllr D Walsh.

Prior to seeking questions from non-executive members, the Corporate Director for Housing set out a short PowerPoint on the current position with the development of the Housing Strategy.

In response to a question about housing supply and who determines that its being provided in the right type, the right tenure and right place, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that needs were identified around the data provided, linked to the local plan and the council’s planning policies.  The Corporate Director for Housing also advised that the council worked closely with registered providers.

Responding to further comments about being an enabler and/or provider, the Portfolio Holder agreed that there were gaps that were filled by the council in terms of provision. For example, temporary accommodation as an intervention, as this was not something that registered providers would do.  The council also needed to stay alert to ensure that there was enough provision across the county. 

Cabinet supported the recommendation and welcomed the strategy acknowledging that it was a living document.

Decision

(a)           That the following be added to the end of paragraph 2.3 of the cover report: “As a Registered Provider we will seek to provide housing that is not currently provided by registered providers. We will also be open to consider s106 housing where no registered provider is identified. This is to maximise the delivery of new affordable housing and to make the best use of the development capacity, expertise and

funding capacity within Registered Provider.

(b)           That the following be added to the end of paragraph 2.5 of the cover report: “which is in accordance with Dorset Council’s Climate and Ecological Strategy.”

Recommendation to Full Council

That the Housing Strategy and its objectives be approved.

Reason for the recommendation

All councils are required to have a Housing Strategy under the Local Government Act 2003. The Act requires Dorset Council to have a clear vision for housing, together with targets and objectives and policies on how it intends to manage and deliver its strategic housing role.  It should provide an overarching framework against which the council considers and formulates other policies on more specific housing issues.