To consider the achievements made to date in respect of the outcomes identified in the Housing, Renewal and Homelessness Strategy 2012-16 Action Plan. 

62.1           The report of the Environmental and Housing Services Group Manager, circulated at Pages No. 102-128, set out the achievements to date in respect of the outcomes identified in the Housing, Renewal and Homelessness Strategy 2012-16 Action Plan.  Members were asked to consider the report.

62.2           The Housing Services Manager explained that the Homelessness Act 2002 and the Local Government Act 2003 required all Councils to develop a strategy that set out their policies, commitments and programme for a wide range of housing matters.  The Housing, Renewal and Homelessness Strategy 2012-16 was developed by an Overview and Scrutiny Working Group and adopted by the Council in September 2012.  In terms of the key activities that had been achieved over the last 12 months, 145 new build homes had been completed with a mix of property types and tenures, of which 24% had been developed to the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 of higher efficiency standards, or equivalent standard; all other homes had met the minimum requirement of Level 3 which was now Building Regulations standard for all homes.  A total of 13 affordable properties had been delivered using the cross-subsidy model in Winchcombe and Badgeworth and two rural exception developments were in the planning system for the Parishes of Minsterworth and Sandhurst, both of which would achieve new affordable housing as well as market housing for families and smaller accommodation for downsizers. 

62.3           Members were informed that 132 disabled facilities grants had been completed between April 2014 and March 2015 at a value of £772,410.  Partnership working across all six Gloucestershire Districts continued to facilitate solutions to health improvements, crime reduction and housing matters.  Applications for social housing were banded according to housing need and a total of 424 properties had been let in the Borough in the financial year; the majority of households, 39%, were in silver band, with 36% in gold band, 23% in bronze and 2% in emergency band.  A greater emphasis had been placed on homelessness prevention in line with the Government’s ‘Gold Standard’ to enable those threatened with homelessness to avoid homeless crisis by staying in their existing home, where reasonable and affordable, and to move to a property of their choice in the private rented sector without the need for costly emergency accommodation.  Following the presentation to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding the redeployment of financial housing options, Officers had successfully assisted the first applicants with deposits to move to alternative accommodation in areas where they wanted to live near to existing support i.e. families and schools. Three family households had been assisted with small deposits of £450-700 to move into private rented accommodation within the Borough, alleviating pressure on social housing in the area.

62.4           Members were informed that the six District Councils in Gloucestershire, together with the Police and Crime Commissioner, had piloted a 12 month sanctuary scheme in 2014 to offer target hardening and sanctuary room measures to residents wanting to remain in their homes but who were at risk of domestic violence.  The pilot had been very successful and the scheme had subsequently been extended until March 2017.  Seven households within Tewkesbury Borough had accessed assistance through the scheme during the pilot year and all continued to remain in their homes.  All seven properties had received target hardening measures e.g. lock changes and minor adaptations, funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner.  No households had required sanctuary measures which would have been part funded by Tewkesbury Borough Council.  It was noted that all of those who benefited were female households; one household had declined assistance.  A joint bid from the six District Councils in Gloucestershire to the Department for Communities and Local Government had recently been successful in securing £500,000 for ‘places of safety’ to provide self-contained emergency accommodation for those fleeing domestic abuse.  12 properties would be made available for that purpose across the County; Severn Vale Housing Society had agreed to provide two properties within Tewkesbury Borough and it was hoped that the first would be available later that month.  A Member queried whether 12 properties was enough to accommodate all those fleeing from domestic violence and the Housing Services Manager indicated that, whilst two properties would be enough for Tewkesbury Borough, urban areas such as Gloucester were likely to require more and, as the properties were being shared across Districts, 12 properties would probably not be sufficient overall.

62.5           A Member raised concern regarding figures for rough sleepers and whether they took account of “sofa surfers” which, in her experience, were often younger people aged 16-24.  The Housing Services Manager clarified that the rough sleeper statistics reflected only those people who were sleeping outside.  She provided assurance that Officers worked closely with vulnerable young people from an early stage and she was not aware of anyone currently sofa surfing in Tewkesbury.

62.6           Having considered the information provided, it was

RESOLVED          That the achievements to date in respect of the outcomes identified in the Housing, Renewal and Homelessness Strategy 2012-16 Action Plan be NOTED.