Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting held on the 2nd October, 2006 be received as a correct record subject to the inclusion of Councillor Robinson as being in attendance.

- report of Danielle Troop, Housing Solutions Officer, Housing Market Renewal Team

The Housing Solutions Officer reported that the lack of affordable housing is a national issue with the national average house price costing seven times average incomes. The 2003 Sustainable Communities Plan laid out the policy context for delivering affordable housing in a way that puts the needs of communities first. Inclusion of Rotherham Neighbourhoods in the South Yorkshire Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder gives heightened importance to the need to deliver balanced communities through use of tenure.

The paper submitted sought to deliver balanced communities through developing an Interim Planning Statement to assist with s106, through developing new tools for those seeking intermediate housing and through proposing a strategic approach to the release of Council owned sites.

Detailed information was set out in the paper in respect of :-

-          the background to adoption of the affordable housing policy

-          housing needs information

-          income data and affordability

-          special needs housing

-          operational delivery of affordable housing

-          the approved development programme

-          Section 106 delivery and consultancy

-          tracking of affordable housing delivery

-          affordable housing communication Action Plan

-          the funding required for affordable housing enabling initiatives

Also highlighted in the paper submitted were the risks and uncertainties should the actions proposed be not progressed.

Subsequent discussions/comments made reference to:-

(a) Key choices and membership eligibility

(b) how problems in local areas were identified and assessed particularly in respect of low income families

(c) affordable housing and shared ownership issues

(d) achieving the target number of affordable units to be built

(e) minimum standards for size of rooms in affordable houses and market housing

(f) the effect of rising house prices on affordable housing and implications for housing developers and the mortgage situation

(g) the procedure for the affordable housing planning process and officers involved in the process

(h) how planning closely monitors details submitted by developers in respect of affordable housing

(i) the need to share good practice between local authorities

Resolved:- (1) That the actions being taken to achieve year on year increases in the number of affordable units built be noted.

(2) That the intention to develop an affordable housing interim planning statement in readiness for the LDF be noted.

(3) That the Regional Housing Board/HIP spend for affordable housing enabling be noted.

(4) That the intention to develop an Affordable Housing Communication Strategy be noted.

(5) That the intention to develop affordable home loans be noted.

(6) That the intention to develop a Neighbourhoods Asset Management Strategy be noted.

(7) That the need to include Affordable Housing in the priority matrix for the Corporate Asset Management Strategy be supported.

(8) That action plans for 2, 4, 5 and 6 above be submitted to a future meeting of this group, the action plan to include timescales.

(9) That information be submitted on the present housing market situation with an overview of what has been delivered to date in communities.

- report of Nick Ward, Planner, Forward Planning

The Forward Planning Officer gave an update on the amount of affordable housing secured through planning permissions since the introduction of Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) on affordable housing.

The report submitted included a table which set out the permissions granted that included affordable housing provision since the adoption of the SPG. The tables were split to show those within and outside the HMR Pathfinder area and to show which were submitted prior to the adoption of the SPG.

The additions and alterations to the table compared to the previous table were highlighted.

Clarification was given relating to the exact location of some developments, particularly in respect of Manvers (Express Parks) West Melton and the Bramley area.

Resolved:- (a) That the contents of the report be noted.

(b) That future reports include more specific information in respect of the areas of developments.

- report of Lewis Coates, Neighbourhood Enforcement Manager

The Neighbourhood Enforcement Manager presented a report which highlighted the progress made against the milestones and targets contained within the Enviro-Crime Strategy that was approved by Cabinet Members for Economic Regeneration and Development Services and Neighbourhoods at the joint meeting on 27th March, 2006.

The Enviro-Crime Strategy was recognised as a critical element in the Council’s holistic approach to tackling anti-social behaviour across the Borough. The progress identified within the report submitted detailed the significant delivery of education, campaigning and enforcement that had been made over the past six months.

The key priorities and objectives of the strategy were set out in the report along with the key achievements.

Comments on the strategy made reference to :-

·                    the extent of involvement of area assemblies

·                    the possibility of repeating the presentations given to members in September and October

·                    the success rate of cases taken through court relating to anti-social behaviour

·                    the need to inform local councillors when presentations on the strategy are given to schools

Resolved:- (a) That the positive progress taken to deliver the Enviro-Crime Strategy and the continued zero tolerance approach to related Anti-Social Behaviour be noted.

(b) That the delivery of a further progress report on the Enviro-Crime Strategy be submitted in six months.

(c) That arrangements be made for all members to receive a paper on the presentations given in September and October, 2006.

Planning Policy Statement No. 22

Security by Design

‘Crystal Mark’

Modernisation of Regulatory Services

It was agreed that future agenda items be :-

Planning Policy Statement No. 22

Security by Design

Crystal Mark

Modernisation of Regulatory Services

Recycling concerns re Bin collections

Agreed:-  That the next meeting take place on Monday, 15th January, 2007 at 10.00 a.m.