The Head of Housing and Property submitted a report to the City Executive Board (attached) which details the Housing Strategy and Action Plan 2015-2018.

The relevant minute (188) of the City Executive Board meeting on 14 May 2015 is attached later in the agenda.

The City Executive Board recommends that Council adopt the Housing Strategy and Action Plan 2015-2018.

Council had before it a report setting out the proposed Housing Strategy and Action Plan 2015-2018 and the recommendations of the City Executive Board meeting on 14 May 2015.

Councillor Seamons moved the recommendation with three amendments to the strategy set out below to correct typographical errors, remove a statement, and remove a completed action.

Council resolved to adopt the Housing Strategy and Action Plan 2015-2018 as set out in the report with the following changes:

1.    Figure 1.1 – dates on the inner circle of the diagram to read 2015-2018;

2.    Section 4.3.3 – delete sentence ‘However access to family homes may be improved by the introduction of such tenancies in the case of 3 and 4 bedroom homes.’

3.    Summary of actions and objectives – Priority 4  remove action ‘Improve the environments where people live’.

The Head of Housing and Property has submitted a report which details the Housing Strategy and Action Plan 2015-2018 that outlines the key priorities for the next three years, following consultation. 

Officer Recommendation: That the City Executive Board adopt the Housing Strategy and Action Plan 2015-2018.

The Head of Housing and Property submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which detailed the Housing Strategy and Action Plan 2015-2018.

Cllr Seamons, Board member for Housing and Estate Regeneration presented the report. He said that further reports including the Housing Asset Management Strategy would be brought to future meetings of the Board.

The Housing Strategy and Needs Manager drew the Board’s attention to the list of key objectives that had been achieved against the 2013 - 2015 Housing Strategy.  He believed that the hard work and achievements of recent years provided a strong platform for the success of the 2015 – 2018 Housing Strategy and Action Plan in what would be a challenging environment.

Cllr Simmons said that the Scrutiny Finance Panel would be looking at innovative funding models for social and affordable housing.

Cllr Brown asked whether the asset management strategy would consider the quality of housing stock in the private rented sector.  Cllrs Seamons and Turner agreed that this was an important issue and explained that it would be addressed through different approaches such as HMO standards and licence renewal. In particular Housing Strategy Priority 4 includes a short term action, for delivery by January 2016, for the development of “a private sector housing strategy that tackles standards and options for maintaining stock in the most deprived areas”.

The City Executive Board resolved to RECOMMEND that Council adopt the Housing Strategy and Action Plan 2015-2018.

The Head of Housing and Property has submitted a report which details the Draft Housing Strategy 2015-2018 with a proposed action plan that outlines the key priorities for the next three years, prior to wider consultation. 

Officer Recommendation: That the City Executive Board approve the Draft Housing Strategy and Action Plan for wider consultation

The Head of Housing and Property submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which detailed the Draft Housing Strategy 2015-2018 with a proposed action plan that outlines the key priorities for the next three years, prior to wider consultation.

Cllr Seamons, Board Member for Housing and Estate Regeneration presented the report. He explained that the draft strategy had a wider focus than previous ones, as it took into account the whole housing market including the private rental sector rather than focussing only on the Council’s housing stock.

Consultation will run for 5 weeks. It will consist of proactive engagement with registered providers and an online submission process. The final strategy will return to the Board for approval in March 2015.

Cllr Tanner asked that the consultation process also include consulting employers, as a lot of them are struggling with recruitment because staff can’t find houses. The Head of Housing said that several public sector employers had already been consulted, but the process can be extended to private sector employers as well.

The City Executive Board resolved to approve the Draft Housing Strategy and Action Plan for wider consultation

Officer: Gary Parsons, Housing Strategy and Performance Manager

Telephone: 01865 252711

Email: gparsons@oxford.gov.uk

Panel Members were encouraged to contribute to the consultation, which runs from 22 October 2014 until 1 December 2014. 

The consultation questions (and the list of specific groups to be consulted with) will be circulated to Panel Members for their input before being finalised.

The Panel agreed to review the Council’s Private Rented Sector Strategy when this has been developed.