Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors: ⁠Menna Baines and Rheinallt Puw.

To receive any declarations of personal interest.

A statement of personal interest was received from Councillors Eryl Jones-Williams and Gareth Coj Parry as they were Social Housing tenants. The interest was not prejudicial so they did not withdraw from the meeting.

To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for consideration.

None to note.

The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the meetings of this committee held on the 26^th September 2024 be signed as a true record.

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 26 September, 2024 as a true record.

a)     To consider the report on the Social Housing Field

b)     Questions to ask the Housing Associations (Adra, Clwyd Alyn, Grŵp Cynefin and North Wales Housing)

1.     To accept the report noting the information and thank the Housing and Property Department for the comprehensive information submitted.

2.     To request additional information from the Housing and Property Department regarding:

-        The numbers on the waiting list for bungalows in Gwynedd and in the Meirionnydd area.

-        The Homelessness figures and how many of these do not originate from Gwynedd.

-        A link to the page on the Members' Intranet which provides ward-level data on the Housing Register.

-        Data on housing exchange numbers (mutual exchanges).

-        Data about the Tai Teg register and the figures.

-        The under-occupancy figures.

-        The exceptions to the Allocations Policy over the past 5 years stating the reasons.

3.     To express concern regarding:

-        The lack of input from the Council when Housing exchanges take place.

-        The potential future implications of the White Paper for Gwynedd's Allocations Policy.

-        The lack of a reduction in the numbers on the Common Housing Register over the last ten years.

-        The homeless numbers in the County.

-        Communicate with the Housing Associations and suggest that the Housing Department should provide a standard form for Members to complete on behalf of tenants when maintenance is required, including the provision of points of contact for the various Housing Association Departments.

4.     To accept the information received from the Housing Associations and their responses to members' questions that will be summarised in the Committee's minutes.

(a)  To consider the report on the Social Housing Field

The report was submitted by the Head of Housing and Property Department. It was explained that an invitation had been extended to the housing associations that are operational in Gwynedd, namely Adra, Clwyd Alyn, Grŵp Cynefin and North Wales Housing, to join the meeting to respond to the Members' questions regarding the implementation of the Housing Allocations Policy. It was noted that the Allocations Policy had been scrutinised twice over the past two years.

The discussion was commenced by asking whether it was possible to receive a percentage of all housing allocations from the sample of 200 applications that had been received from the Housing Department. It was confirmed that the percentage was approximately between 15-20%. It was noted that the applications had been selected at random and that detailed work had followed to see what the local connection of individuals was, as well as their connection with the community where they had a social property. It was believed that the figures taken from the sample showed a clear pattern and gave assurances and credibility to the work completed. It was added that the 95% who were eligible were in the Gwynedd connection category due to their residency and that the rest was a small number, i.e. to provide or receive support from a person or provision in Gwynedd and it was asked for this to be evidenced. It was added that the Housing Department could provide the exact figure for the Members.

It was asked what the wait time was for bungalows in the Gwynedd and Meirionnydd area, emphasising their importance when releasing houses for families who genuinely needed them.

-       It was noted that the figures on the demand for bungalows were not available today, but that the Housing Department would collect this information and provide it to the Members, as well as the list of the number of bungalows that the housing associations had so that there was a comparison between the demand and the supply.

It was noted that the Gwynedd social housing waiting list was long and it was asked why no more social housing were being built.

-       In response to the question, it was explained that Gwynedd had joint social housing development plans which were prosperous and were acknowledged as a successful plan. It was noted that £50 million was being spent every year on social housing in Gwynedd. It was acknowledged that the number of houses that could be built were subject to funding and the availability of lands. It was hoped that the Local Development Policy would address these restrictions and that more funding would be available from the Government. 

In terms of homelessness in Gwynedd, it was noted that the Housing Action Plan was worth £180 million and that a substantial proportion of this money had been earmarked for building and re-purposing houses for homelessness needs. In addition, it was noted that approximately 88 support units were being built  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.