The Head of Housing introduced the report to Members explaining the Housing White Paper was published in February 2017 by the Department for Communities and Local Government, with a focus on its implications for Thurrock.

He continued by informing the Committee, the government wanted to revise the definition of `affordable housing’ within the National Planning Policy Framework and sought to ensure that more affordable housing was delivered. 

It was discussed that the White Paper suggested changes to the planning policy, one of these was to assist households currently `priced out’ out of either buying or renting.  The White Paper also confirmed the government’s support of Bob Blackman MP’s Homelessness Reduction Bill.

Members were advised the White Paper confirmed the 1% rent reduction until 2020 and also sought to address holdups within the planning system, some of which had led to the establishment of Gloriana in Thurrock.

The Head of Housing notified the Committee, Officers had spoken with the Minister for Housing, Gavin Barwell MP, during a discussion with representatives from a number of Local Authorities’.  The key points raised by the Minister were as follows:

·         Three main areas of focus – the need for land, within Local Plans, the need to speed up delivery when planning permission had been granted and the fact there were too few & too big housing developers;

·         Councils to be held to account for not just delivering 'glossy plans', but actually delivering housing;

·         If local areas promoted development, the Government would 'stand shoulder to shoulder with you' to ensure the delivery happened and;

·         Housing Infrastructure fund, a review would be undertaken to get all parts of Government to be 'housing delivery centric' when considering funding regimes.

It was queried by Councillor Pothecary as to whether confirmation had been given to selling properties to housing tenants. The Head of Housing explained that in relation to social housing there was no reference to fixed-term tenancies or high-value voids; however tenants could follow the Right to Buy scheme. 

Councillor Redsell welcomed the suggestion to use smaller building companies. She remarked that smaller properties were needed so that people living in in three and four bedroomed homes, were able to down size and families on the housing waiting list could be given a home. 

It was enquired if the affordable housing would be offered to Thurrock residents first, given the housing waiting list had 8,000 people currently on it. Officers explained that within Thurrock the resident qualification was 5 years. When placing people from the waiting list into affordable housing, it would depend on their need.

The Chair addressed the Committee stating he welcomed the report. In particular he commented on affordable homes, remarking that the reduction of percentage-per-site requirement reducing from 20% to 10% was a good start and would give people hope of owning a property. As many families were living in tower blocks with young children and no garden.

He further commented that developers should be encouraged to include bungalows within developments, as there were single pensioners living in three bedroom houses who would prefer to live in more adequate accommodation, on one level.

Councillor Redsell remarked that not all elderly people wished to be moved or to live in a complex.

The Chair requested that a copy of the Council's response to the consultation arising from the White Paper be circulated to all Committee Members once it had been finalised.

RESOLVED:

Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted the briefing on the Housing White Paper.