Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Head of Environmental Health 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 Environmental Health Services was submitted. The report proposed specific changes to the Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy in order to address local needs, as identified in the on-going private sector house condition survey.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at their meeting on 10 March 2009 and the support and comments of Members were noted.  Members were pleased to note the financial assistance which had been provided to home-owners through the policy and welcomed the proposed changes. The Chair endorsed the policy as an effective and sustainable way of improving the private sector housing stock in the city. 

In response to a query regarding the maximum level of loan of £3500 in respect of mobile homes, the Director Community and Environment stated that this was considered to be sufficient but there was scope to consider individual cases on their merits and review and, if necessary, amend the policy in due course. The Portfolio Holder Housing and Social Inclusion, seconded by Councillor Mrs Morrish, proposed that requests for loans above the £3500 limit for mobile homes should be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Head of Environmental Health Services and this amendment was agreed. 

Executive recommended that:-

(1)        the changes to the Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy outlined in this report be adopted, subject to requests for loans in excess of £3500 in respect of mobile homes, being determined on a case-by-case basis by the Head of Environmental Health Services;

(2)        the expenditure of the single pot allocation be monitored and the proposed financial allocation to each of the schemes amended or further schemes approved by the Head of Environmental Health Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing & Social Inclusion; and

(3)        the Policy be reviewed annually, or sooner if needs be, in order to ensure that it addresses local needs and/or government policy.

The report of the Head of Environmental Health Services was submitted. The report proposed specific changes to the Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy in order to address local needs, as identified in the on-going private sector house condition survey.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at their meeting on 10 March 2009 and the support and comments of Members were noted.  Members were pleased to note the financial assistance which had been provided to home-owners through the policy and welcomed the proposed changes. The Chair endorsed the policy as an effective and sustainable way of improving the private sector housing stock in the city. 

In response to a query regarding the maximum level of loan of £3500 in respect of mobile homes, the Director Community and Environment stated that this was considered to be sufficient but there was scope to consider individual cases on their merits and review and, if necessary, amend the policy in due course. The Portfolio Holder Housing and Social Inclusion, seconded by Councillor Mrs Morrish, proposed that requests for loans above the £3500 limit for mobile homes should be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Head of Environmental Health Services and this amendment was agreed. 

RECOMMENDED that:-

(1)        the changes to the Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy outlined in this report be adopted, subject to requests for loans in excess of £3500 in respect of mobile homes, being determined on a case-by-case basis by the Head of Environmental Health Services;

(2)        the expenditure of the single pot allocation be monitored and the proposed financial allocation to each of the schemes amended or further schemes approved by the Head of Environmental Health Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing & Social Inclusion; and

(3)        the Policy be reviewed annually, or sooner if needs be, in order to ensure that it addresses local needs and/or government policy.

(Report circulated)

To consider the report of the Head of Environmental Health Services – report circulated

The Head of Environmental Health Services presented the report proposing specific changes to the Private Sector Housing Renewal policy in order to address local needs, as identified in the on-going private sector housing condition survey. In response to Members, he detailed proposed changes to the renewal policy including the range of financial assistance packages which, from April 2009, would include three new loan products. He also detailed the mechanism for the use of loans, the relation to grants and enforcement action.

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

(1)        adopt the changes to the Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy as set out in the report;

(2)        ensure that the expenditure of the single pot allocation is monitored and authorise the Head of Environmental Health Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Social Inclusion, to agree the proposed financial allocation to each of the schemes amended or further schemes; and

(3)        arrange for the policy to be reviewed annually, or sooner if required, in order to ensure that it addresses local needs and/or Government policy.

(Report circulated)