Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Head of Housing Services.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at their meeting on 10 March 2009 and their comments will be reported.

(Report circulated)

The report of the Head of Housing Services was submitted, informing Members of progress in the preparation of the Exeter Empty Homes Strategy 2009-2014 and advising them of proposals for consultation.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at their meeting on 10 March 2009 and the support and comments of Members were noted.

Executive welcomed the Strategy and congratulated the Empty Homes Partnership on the achievements of the scheme over the past 13 years. Members were pleased to note that the Partnership was close to bringing its 1000^th dwelling back into use.  The Chair re-stated the commitment of the Administration to fully utilise all housing stock in the city and minimise the number of empty homes.

Executive approved the draft Empty Homes Strategy and that the draft strategy goes out for public consultation, the results and amended strategy to be reported to Executive in June 2009.

The report of the Head of Housing Services was submitted, informing Members of progress in the preparation of the Exeter Empty Homes Strategy 2009-2014 and advising them of proposals for consultation.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at their meeting on 10 March 2009 and the support and comments of Members were noted.

Executive welcomed the Strategy and congratulated the Empty Homes Partnership on the achievements of the scheme over the past 13 years. Members were pleased to note that the Partnership was close to bringing its 1000^th dwelling back into use.  The Chair re-stated the commitment of the Administration to fully utilise all housing stock in the city and minimise the number of empty homes.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)        the draft Empty Homes Strategy be approved; and

(2)        the draft strategy goes out for public consultation and the results and amended strategy be reported to Executive in June 2009.

(Report circulated)

To consider the report of the Head of Housing Services – report circulated

The Head of Housing Services presented the report informing Members of progress in the preparation of the Exeter Empty Homes Strategy 2009-2014 and advising about the proposed consultation.

In response to a Member, he advised that Empty Dwellings Management Orders and/or compulsory purchase orders were used as a last resort and that there were only some 15/20 dwellings in the City that could be the subject of such action. Other options were preferred to bring properties into use, particularly as much work and evidence was required to take the matter to court. Conversions of old buildings etc. were difficult and expensive to accomplish and the Homes and Communities Agency were unlikely to offer financial support where grant levels are high. A Member referred to the use of empty shops for temporary housing in cold weather. Guardian schemes were being introduced across the country where the homeless could temporarily occupy such properties and Councils were required to make emergency provision arrangements where temperatures fell below freezing on three consecutive nights. The Street Homeless Outreach Team sought to persuade the homeless to make use of seats for the night at Gabriel House during cold weather.

Scrutiny Committee - Community supported the report and requested Executive to:-

(1)        approve the draft Empty Homes Strategy; and

(2)        support the draft strategy being put out to public consultation with the results and amended strategy being reported to Members in June 2009.

(Report circulated)