Agenda and draft minutes

Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on. 

By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

The Chair referred Members present to agenda Item 1 as shown on the agenda in respect of filming at this meeting, and Members noted the information contained therein.

The Leader/Cabinet Member will advise of any items they have decided to take as Urgent Business.

None

The report will seek Leader Approval for changes to the draft Housing Strategy, its associated Equalities Impact Assessment and the timetable for consultation on the draft Housing Strategy. 

The Leader was asked to approve changes to the draft Housing Strategy in advance of it being released for consultation, and to note its associated Equalities Impact Assessment and the timetable for consultation on the draft Housing Strategy.

It was noted that, following the Cabinet’s approval in March 2015, the draft Housing Strategy had been released for consultation in line with the original envisaged timetable. However when the outcome of the national election became known and the implications of the Conservative manifesto commitment (to extend right to buy to Housing Association tenants, funded by the enforced sale of high value Council properties)became clearer, it was decided to delay the Housing Strategy consultation until after the Queens’s speech on the 27^th May 2015. This was to assess the extent to which the strategy should be re-written and potentially withdrawn and re-submitted to Cabinet.  Following  the assessment and review of the situation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, it was agreed that the current draft Housing strategy should proceed to consultation but with reference to the proposed extension of the Right to Buy included within the document.

The Leader was advised that, in addition, the following changes to the document had been formulated, since the March Cabinet decision, and fell into 3 broad categories:

a)    Material changes to the document as set out at  paragraph 5.4.1 in the interleaved report

b)    Changes which make the document easier to read and more accessible for residents

c)    Changes which correct typing and grammatical errors

d)    Changes to the EQIA  -to reflect that it is a high level framework document and incorporation of findings, since the Cabinet in March.

[EQIA‘s are continuing high level documents open to comments and consultation]

RESOLVED

      i.        To approve the Draft Housing Strategy for consultation (attached at  Appendix A)

     ii.        To note the Equalities Impact Assessment (attached at Appendix D)

    iii.        To note the timetable for consultation (attached at Appendix E)

To consider any new items of Urgent Business admitted under Item 2 above.

None