Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Planning and Property attached.

Decision made (unanimously):

That Cabinet agrees:

1.    To note the consultation that has been undertaken on the two draft strategies, the comments and feedback received during the consultation period and the improvements made to each of the strategies based on the feedback received.

2.    To endorse the approval and adoption of the of each of the strategies to deliver the Council’s priorities for housing in South Ribble.

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and City Deal presented a report of the Director of Planning and Property detailing two draft strategies for consideration and approval as follows:

·         Draft South Ribble Housing Strategy 2020-2025

·         Draft Prevention of Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2020-2025 (including South Ribble Homelessness Review 2020)

Councillor Bretherton enquired as to whether there was any interest in the borough in self and custom build housing. It was agreed that the Director of Planning and Property provide the relevant figures after the meeting.

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and City Deal confirmed that all 7 responses to the consultation on the Housing Strategy had been detailed in full in the report. The Leader of the Council indicated that both strategies presented were excellent and timely, particularly the Prevention of Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy in light of the challenges ahead arising from the pandemic.

Decision made (unanimously):

1.    That Cabinet notes the consultation that has been undertaken on the two draft strategies, the comments and feedback received during the consultation period and the improvements made to each of the strategies based on the feedback received.

2.    That Cabinet endorses the approval and adoption of the of each of the strategies to deliver the Council’s priorities for housing in South Ribble.

Reasons for Decision

1.    To enable the Council to achieve its housing priorities and direct resources to delivering specified actions as identified in each of the strategies.

2.    To enable a clear vision and strategic approach to the Council’s housing services for the borough to 2025.

3.    To meet the Council’s statutory duty under the Homelessness Act 2002 to carry out review of homelessness and rough sleeping in the borough and to publish a strategy to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping.

Alternative options considered and rejected

1.    The Cabinet could have chosen not to adopt the South Ribble Housing Strategy 2020-2025. However, the Housing Framework 2017-2020 is now out of date with the housing landscape having changed since this document was approved. Given the strong priorities for housing in the Council’s Corporate Plan it is important to set a clear vision and strategic approach for housing across the borough and to be able to respond to opportunities and challenges that may arise.

2.    The Cabinet could have chosen not to adopt the Prevention of Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, however it is a legal requirement to have a strategy, pursuant to the Homelessness Act 2002, and this was therefore rejected.