Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development – Councillor Matt McCabe introduced the report, he underlined that the item related to the Housing Plan rather than the Local Plan. The officer gave a presentation which covered the following:

Bath & North East Somerset Housing Plan 2025-2030

Background: The Council’s Ambition for Housing

Key Focus Areas: 5 Pillar Approach

Pillar 1: Releasing Land for Housing

Pillar 2: BANES homes and affordable housing

Pillar 3: Affordability Across the Housing Market

Pillar 4: Housing Support

Pillar 5: Housing Suitability

What does the Housing Plan do?

Panel members raised the following points and asked the following questions:

Councillor Collins stated that she was pleased to see the report which covers the important areas and outlines the excellent work being done regarding supported housing and BANES homes. She also stated was disappointed about the lack of measurable targets. She asked that, when the report comes back to the Panel it would be good to see progress, but it is hard to see how we can hold the Cabinet Member to account regarding progress. Councillor Collins referred to page 41 that mentions ‘slowly’ which she stated is not the approach we would like to see. She concluded that there is a real housing crisis, we need urgent and dedicated action and we want reassurance on this. The officer explained that there is a suite of KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) for the area. He explained that ‘slowly’ means incrementally (re page 41).

Councillor David stated that this was a useful document and framework. She agreed with the point made above regarding measurable targets. She asked about the shortage of 4-bedroom homes in the social rented sector and any challenges around the delivery of them. The officer explained that if a family is on the Housing Register for a 4-bedroom property, they could in principle be waiting 200 years so this is a major issue. He explained that that 4-bedroom properties have been very attractive in the right to buy scheme, and they are also expensive to build. He explained that work is being done to make sure 4-bedroom properties are efficiently used and that people can be incentivised to move on if they do not need 4 bedrooms. He added that he is working with Housing Associations to provide a proportion of 4-bedroom properties and also regarding projects where houses can be converted.

Councillor Heijltjes asked how long families (and children) wait for houses on the search register and how many social houses have been made available since 2019. The officer explained that around 1000 families (on the search register) are in urgent need and around 4000 wish to move (but have adequate housing). The Cabinet Member added that the target is that the Council own 1000 units by 2033.

Councillor Johnson stated that we are moving in the wrong direction on waiting times and asked how this relates nationally and against other authorities. The officer explained that we compare well nationally. The trend in the wrong direction is a national issue. We have the highest number of people (and children) in temporary accommodation as we have every had nationally. In term of reasons for this – he explained that families are coming in with multiple challenges (eg. Rent arrears, bigger number of larger families and also chaotic lifestyles). This matches patterns in other authorities as well as the national picture.

Councillor Wait asked if the referrals from outside BANES was a reciprocal arrangement. The officer explained that people fleeing domestic abuse often need to move out of the area. There is roughly a balance.

Councillor Simon asked about loft conversions in 3 bed houses. The officer stated that individuals are engaged with this rather than it being a strategic issue.

Councillor David asked if we track levels of HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupation) and do they affect the housing stock. She asked if we incentivise landlords to offer properties to families rather than HMOs. The Cabinet Member explained that the planning system states that HMO density cannot be more than 10% and that family homes cannot be sandwiched between HMOs. The officer stated that it is harder to track HMOs since the cessation of the smaller HMO licensing scheme. He stated that landlords must register their properties online now but there is not a level of detail. The Cabinet Member added that we had a small HMO registration scheme to bring up the standard but we cannot run another registration scheme at present.

Councillor Collins asked if we liaise with Bath Universities to make sure students have enough accommodation. She also asked what we do to incentivse older people to downsize.  The Cabinet Member stated that this was a planning consideration which can be discussed in another context. He explained that there are planning rules on student accommodation.

Councillor Johnson stated that infrastructure is important with large developments for the current community as well as new residents. He explained that there is an example in Paulton where infrastructure was promised but not delivered. The Cabinet Member agreed.

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member and officers.