Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health.

Recommendations

That Cabinet:

1.    Approve the Housing Strategy 2025-2030.

2.    Delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health to approve the action plan and minor data amendments to the Strategy prior to publication.

Consideration was given to the report which presented the Housing Strategy 2025-2030 for approval. The Strategy had been developed following a 12 week consultation period with tenants and residents, officers and key stakeholders, and in the context of Government Policy, data and housing intelligence. Its purpose was to set out the Council’s strategic priorities for housing over the next 5 years. The Strategy also recognised the key issues affecting housing in Rotherham and the impact those issues had on residents. It set out how the Council would work in partnership to address the issues identified and demonstrated alignment with other key Council strategies and plans.

Rotherham’s 30-year Housing Strategy was published in December 2012. It set out the Council’s long-term vision for housing in the Borough until 2043.Since 2012, the Housing Strategy had been refreshed regularly to ensure it remained up-to-date and addressed the current challenges and opportunities and referenced the latest statistical evidence. This Strategy would be the fifth chapter of the 30 year Housing Strategy. The Strategy period would be increased from 3 years to 5 to allow sufficient time for progress to be made against each of the priorities and to allow for alignment with the Council Plan.

A summary of the achievements covering the period between April 2022 and March 2025 was set out in paragraphs 1.5 to 1.9 of the report. As part of the Council’s Housing Delivery Programme, 304 homes had been delivered for Council rent and 37 for Shared Ownership across the Borough during the last 3 years, which was over a third of the Council’s 1,000 new homes target.  This included the completion of 3 housing sites in the Town Centre; the acquisition of 64 homes by March 2025; and the launch of the Small Site Homebuilding Initiative.

Between 19th August, 2024 and 11th November, 2024, consultation was carried out with Rotherham residents, officers and a wide range of partners and key stakeholders to inform the priorities for the Strategy. The proposed aims and priorities of the draft Strategy were shared with a range of groups, including:

·       An online survey – shared with key groups, including Rother Fed

·       Social media coverage / press release of online survey

·       Housing Involvement Panel with Council tenants

·       Tenant Open Day with Council tenants

·       Strategic Housing Forum with housing associations and other key partners

·       Staff sessions

·       Rotherham Show

·       Employment Solutions recruitment event

·       Improving Places Select Committee members

The Strategy 2025-30, attached at Appendix 1, had 4 priorities that would remain important and relevant over the next 5 years. These were:

·       Building high quality, sustainable and affordable new homes.

·       Improving the safety, quality and energy efficiency of Council homes.

·       Supporting residents to live independently, including through the prevention of homelessness.

·       Ensuring that neighbourhoods are safe, happy and thriving.

The Strategy reflected the key challenges that had continued or arisen since the Strategy was last refreshed and represented a continuation from the previous Strategy 2022-25 (chapter 4) of the need to support residents, improve the quality of existing homes and build more affordable housing.

An action plan was being developed to monitor progress and delivery against the Strategy across the 5 year period. Cabinet was asked to delegate this to the relevant Strategic Director to approve. The Improving Places Select Commission would receive updates on delivery against the Action Plan annually to provide scrutiny on the progress being made.

During the meeting, the need for further housing was reiterated. Councillor Cusworth noted the impact more quality housing would have on the lives on young people. The Leader referenced the homelessness statistics and stated that whilst difficult decisions would need to be made in terms of the New Local Plan and further housing developments, something needed to be done to address the housing problems. Councillor Baker-Rogers welcomed the impressive progress that had already been made.

The report was considered by the Improving Places Select Commission (IPSC). In recommendation 1 they asked for a paragraph to be inserted into the Strategy which referenced the problems and impact of anti-social behaviour along with details on the training of the Housing/Tenancy Officers. In recommendation 2, they requested that the word “happy” be removed from Priority 4 of the Strategy and replaced.

The Cabinet accepted recommendation 1 and the paragraph would be added to the Strategy. Cabinet rejected recommendation 2 on the basis that the word “happy” had been used to reflect the wording an ensure consistency with the Council Plan.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approve the Housing Strategy 2025-2030.

2.    Delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health to approve the action plan and minor data amendments to the Strategy prior to publication.

3.    Accept the proposal from the Improving Places Select Commission and agree that reference is made within the Housing Strategy to compulsory training being delivered to all Housing/Tenancy Officers regarding anti-social behaviour, using the following suggested wording:

“Our housing officers undergo comprehensive training to effectively deal with Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB). This training ensures that they:

- Identify and understand ASB issues

- Know when and how to report incidents

- Are aware of the powers available to the council to address ASB.

Equipped with this knowledge, our officers can take prompt and effective action to tackle ASB, providing a safer and more supportive environment for our community.”