Agenda item

To consider a report by the Interim Service Manager for Housing Strategy.

The committee received a presentation from Service Manager for Housing Strategy on delivery of the Housing Strategy, including progress against the four phases of work, priorities for 2026-29 and the establishment of a new Housing Delivery Board. The Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness highlighted the move away from silo working, by creating the Housing, Communities and Prevention Directorate, and emphasised that housing should be recognised as a cross-council issue.

The committee discussed the report and asked questions of the officers. The following points were raised:

·         Concerns about out-of-date brownfield site data, ongoing challenges in engaging private landlords and the implications of the Primary Residence Policy in areas without neighbourhood plans. The Corporate Director of Housing advised that landlord registration requirements under the Renters' Rights Act should improve engagement with private landlords and confirmed that research on primary residence policies was being fed into the Local Plan evidence base.

·         How affordable housing was defined and communicated to residents. Officers advised that resident-led language was being introduced to make information clearer and more accessible for residents.

·         The impacts of holiday lets, principal residence policies and planning policy. Members highlighted the importance of considering these issues through the Local Plan process. The Chairman suggested a joint scrutiny meeting with Place and Resources Committee to consider the links between housing and planning policy.

·         Concerns about affordable housing delivery and whether future targets should increase in line with overall housing targets. The Housing Enabling and Delivery Manager acknowledged that affordable housing targets had not been met, largely due to nutrient neutrality and flooding constraints, but advised that additional affordable housing was expected through ongoing schemes in Weymouth and Bridport.

·         The effect of viability assessments on Section 106 affordable housing delivery. The Chairman noted increasing viability challenges and concerns about achieving future affordable housing targets. Officers advised that most affordable housing commitments were delivered, however, there were wider market pressures and the reluctance of some registered providers to take on additional homes.

·         Accessible housing, local occupancy of new homes and the success of the downsizing initiative. Officers advised that accessibility considerations were increasingly being built into housing provision, housing register data was used to inform local housing need, and the main barrier to downsizing was the cost of moving.

·         The Chairman queried the use of income generated from the second homes council tax premium. The Corporate Director of Housing advised that 40% of this income was currently allocated towards affordable housing projects, with further options under consideration.

Following a housing performance update from the Strategic Performance, Intelligence and Risk Lead, on which no questions were raised, the Chairman summarised the discussion. She proposed a joint meeting with Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee to consider issues including the Primary Residence Policy, rural exception policies, accessibility and the role of housing in the Local Plan. She also welcomed closer working between housing and adult social care services and expressed concern about the risks of not meeting future housing targets. Members agreed that a further Housing Strategy update should be brought back to the committee in one year's time.