The Head of Housing and Property Services submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which detailed the proposed Housing Asset Management Strategy and associated action plan for Oxford City Council’s housing stock.

Cllr Seamons, Executive Board Member for Housing presented the report, highlighting the proposal to adopt and deliver an Oxford Standard which would be higher than the statutory Decent Homes standard.  The Head of Housing and Property Services said that the Council was already commissioning work that would meet this enhanced standard.

In considering this report the City Executive Board discussed the implications of the Government’s proposals for housing association tenants to buy their homes at discounted prices. The Chief Executive said that this was potentially a very serious issue for the Council which would challenge all aspects of the Council’s housing strategy and management of its housing stock. 

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1.    RECOMMEND to Council the adoption of the Housing Asset Management Strategy along with the Oxford Standard as part of the Council’s policy framework;

2.    ENDORSE the action plan;

3.    NOTE that an Energy Strategy will be presented to the Board later this year.

The  Head of Housing and Property Services submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) which detailed the Asset Management Strategy and associated action plan for Oxford City Council’s housing stock.

Cllr Seamons, Board Member for Housing and Estate Regeneration presented the report. A stock condition survey had been done to determine the priorities of the strategy. Consultation with tenants and other key stakeholders had already taken place and their ideas have been incorporated into the strategy.  The strategy will go out for full public consultation as part of the budget consultation process.

The Scrutiny Officer presented the Housing Panel’s report.  He outlined the panel’s 4 recommendations.  Cllr Seamons was happy to accept all of the recommendations. The Head of Housing and Property explained that information on the national house swap scheme was already available to tenants and that he would implement all 4 recommendations.

The City Executive Board resolved to:

1. Agree the draft strategy and associated action plan for consultation.

2. Include the Housing Asset Management Strategy as part of the Council’s Policy Framework.