Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – REGULATORY

To consider and adopt a Housing Grants Policy 2019-2024 to replace the Council’s existing Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy.

RESOLVED: That the Housing Grants Policy 2019-2024 set out in Appendix A be adopted..

REASON FOR DECISION: The Council’s existing Private Sector Housing Policy is outdated and no longer relevant to national or local circumstances. A new Housing Grants Policy is proposed which properly reflects the objectives set out in the Council’s Housing Strategy.

Audio Recording – Start of Item – Session 2 – 20 minutes 23 seconds

The Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health presented the report entitled Housing Grants Policy. The following appendix was also considered:

·                 Appendix A - Housing Grants Policy 2019-2024.

The Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health advised that the report recommended continuing support for the Policy until 2023/24.

The following Members took part in the debate and asked questions:

·                 Councillor Lynda Needham;

·                 Councillor David Levett;

·                 Councillor Julian Cunningham;

·                 Councillor Tony Hunter.

In response to questions the Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health and the Strategic Housing Manager advised that offering this type of grant was optional for the Council and there was a commitment that the Policy be more widely advertised.

Eligibility was based on income and the forms to apply were reasonably simple.

RESOLVED: That the Housing Grants Policy 2019-2024 set out in Appendix A be adopted.

REASON FOR DECISION: The Council’s existing Private Sector Housing Policy is outdated and no longer relevant to national or local circumstances. A new Housing Grants Policy is proposed which properly reflects the objectives set out in the Council’s Housing Strategy.