Agenda item

Cabinet Member – Councillor Craig ab Iago

To consider a report on the above  (attached).

A report on the Housing Action Plan for 2020 to 2025 was submitted by the Cabinet member and the Head of Housing and Property Department. The purpose of this report was to update the Care Scrutiny Committee on the impending work to develop specific solutions to the housing challenges facing the residents of Gwynedd, in order to consult with the Committee before the proposed expenditure programme was submitted for the Cabinet's approval in due course, in March of the same year. The report explained the main housing challenges seen in Gwynedd, the resources available for the housing plan 2020-25, and the long list of schemes which needed priority. It was emphasised that this was an early step in the process, and that the presenters were at the meeting to listen to Committee members' input and priorities, in order to begin the work of turning the Council's housing strategy into an operational plan for the next financial year.

The funding available to achieve these schemes was discussed, and attention was drawn specifically to the source of income from Council tax on second homes and empty houses. In response to a question from the members, it was noted that the figure in the report and the anticipated income from this tax was reasonable. It was estimated that £2.7m would be collected annually from this tax; however, it was noted that £2.9m had been collected in the first year. The challenge posed by people who had ways and means of avoiding this taxation, such as by registering the house as a business, was discussed. It was noted that there were upcoming discussions with the Government regarding ensuring that people did not avoid paying as they were required to do. It was also explained that the Council had the ability to take out loans at a cheaper rate than housing associations, should the Council decide that more funding was needed to support the housing plan.  In response to a question regarding the Council's relationship with housing associations, it was emphasised that the intention and aim was to work with the housing associations rather than to compete against them. It was explained working alongside the housing associations was an opportunity to combine resources, skills and strengths in various fields, especially as the Council had transferred its expertise in tasks such as rent collection to Adra.

In response to members' enquiries regarding the ambition, it was acknowledged that there were many obstacles, including financial ones, but it was emphasised that they were ambitious, and wished to achieve as many of the schemes as possible. In response to a question from members regarding what the Housing and Property Department considered to be the priorities, the head of department noted the following: bringing empty houses back into use as this achieved more than one objective, increasing the housing options available to local people, schemes involving care and supported housing, and schemes addressing homelessness issues.

The Cabinet Member and the Head of the Housing and Property Department expanded on the content of the report, and also responded to questions and observations from members. They expressed their gratitude to the Committee for its work, that they appreciated the good relationship, and that they were eager for the Committee to play an increased role in future. During the discussion, the following observations were made:

·         Each of the schemes noted in the report were approved, noting that it was difficult to prioritise them. However, the priorities mentioned or highlighted during the discussion were increasing the number of affordable houses for young people, offering support to people who were unable to get a mortgage or who were unable to secure temporary accommodation while the house was being built, housing for large families with many children, prioritising vulnerable people and the schemes which would have the widest impact on the largest number of people, prioritising supported housing in order to ensure that people were able to live independently (something the Council, in the opinion of the member, had not always succeeded in doing in the past), and purchasing empty houses in order to bring the buildings back into use.

·         In response to an observation that support for large families with many children was not included within the schemes, reference was made to three items in the plan which could address this issue; however, it was acknowledged that there was a need to make direct reference to large families in order to highlight this.  

·         In response to observations regarding the number of affordable houses, the support available to young people at present, and the general definition of affordable housing, it was explained that some of the matters referred to were planning matters. It was noted that the Plan would attempt to address the need to increase housing options and supply for local people.

·         In response to members' observations regarding the relationship with the planning department, the Head of Department noted that constructive discussions had already commenced with the planning department in terms of what was possible to achieve.  The Head of Department noted that both departments had a very good relationship and that they would continue to work together on what was possible to achieve within the Planning framework. It was also emphasised that the importance was in providing according to need rather than windfall development, thus agreeing with a member's observation that the point in the report regarding establishing the actual need for houses in our communities was of core importance to the plan in moving forward.

·         It was noted that the Council ran an empty houses scheme, which had succeeded in bringing 56 houses back into use in the current year. It was explained that the process of recovering well-known empty buildings in town centres was a lengthy and complicated one, but that there were upcoming discussions with the Government in order to understand how this process could be undertaken, and that it was possible that there would be new powers available in the near future.   

·         In response to an observation that getting a mortgage was the main obstacle preventing people from acquiring a house and that the Council should therefore consider purchasing houses or offering loans, it was explained that the Department was aware of a previous discussion regarding a mortgages scheme, but that part-ownership schemes seemed more promising as a solution at present.

·         The possibility of supporting individuals through the self-build process was also discussed. It was noted that one of the schemes within the report referred to this situation, as the Government was investing in a similar scheme. It was noted that it appeared to be a complex scheme at present.

·         The suggestion that councillors should help by drawing officers' attention to land which went up for sale in their wards in order to allow the Council to move quickly should it be possible to purchase was welcomed. The Committee was asked for its approval to develop this idea further, in order to obtain guidance as to how this could be done and via which process.

RESOLVED to accept the report and look at establishing a task and finish group in order to work alongside the Housing and Property Department, and to offer support through the process of prioritising the housing schemes.