Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor D H Hopkins and W Evans (Cabinet Members).

 

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

 

To approve, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting of the Communities Cabinet Advisory Committee held on 2 April, 2015 and 19 May, 2015.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Communities Cabinet Advisory Committee held on 2 April 2015 and 19 May 2015 be approved as correct records subject to the following amendment:

 

19 May 2015

 

Add Councillor G J Tanner to the list of apologies.

 

The Communities Cabinet Advisory Committee Terms of Reference were provided for information. 

 

Presentation by Amanda Owen.

The Community Food and Growing Team Manager, supported by the Community Food Officer provided an overview update regarding food banks in Swansea.  The following details were provided:

 

·         Swansea Food Bank - Trussell Trust, including criteria, distribution centres and number of vouchers issued;

 

·         Independent Food Banks, including:

 

-        St Teilo’s Church, Portmead;

-        Eastside Food Bank, Bonymaen;

-        Lifepoint Church, Uplands;

-        Contact Centre, Civic Centre;

-        Communities First;

-        Swansea Mosque Food Bank.

 

The Committee asked a number of questions of the Officers who responded accordingly.  Discussions centred around the following:

 

·         Impact of Welfare Reform;

 

·         Rise in people’s use of food banks;

 

·         Methods used by Trussell Trust compared to Independent Food Banks;

 

·         How the Council can assist individuals and the process in general;

 

·         How voucher schemes are operated;

 

·         Service provided by the Trussell Trust and Independent Food Banks.

 

The Chair proposed that a letter be forwarded to all Food Banks enquiring how the Council could assist them in the future.

 

RESOLVED that the Community Food and Growing Team Manager writes to all Food Banks in Swansea to establish how the Authority can support them in the future and reports the findings to a future Committee meeting.

 

Presentation by Peter Williams covering:

 

1.         Introduction

2.         Housing Market Assessments

3.         Land Use Planning Framework

4.         Affordable Housing.

 

The Strategic Planning and Enabling Manager, Housing and Senior Policy Officer, supported by the Senior Planning Officer - Policy provided a presentation regarding the Local Housing Strategy.  The purpose of the presentation was to review the following chapters of the strategy:-

 

·         Chapter 1 - Foreword and Introduction;

 

·         Chapter 2 - Housing Market Assessment;

 

·         Chapter 3 - Land Use Planning Framework;

 

·         Chapter 4 - Affordable Housing. 

 

Details within the presentation included:-

 

·         Background;

 

·         What is a Local Housing Strategy?;

 

·         Consultation Process;

 

·         Dividing up the Strategy;

 

·         Chapter 2 - Housing Market Assessment:

 

• Undertaken contractor (ORS) using Welsh Government Guidance;
• Joint Project Wales Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council;
• Results went to Scrutiny Board as part of Affordable Housing Scrutiny Process;
• Results used to inform the Local Development Plan;
• Started new in-house market assessment;
• What data was considered?;
• All secondary data;
• Projected population change;
• Key results;
• Where should affordable housing be built?

 

·         Chapter 3 - Land Use Planning Framework:

 

-        Aims of the LDP;

-        Key Statistics of the LDP (2010 -2025);

-        Affordable Housing in the LDP;

-        Timeframe for the LDP;

 

·         Chapter 4 - Affordable Housing:

 

-        Social Housing Grant Allocation for Swansea;

-        Section 106 Agreements;

-        Alternative Ways of Increasing Affordable Housing;

-        Other Welsh Government funding streams, e.g. Smaller Properties Grant, Housing Finance Grant, Vibrant and Viable Places Grant;

-        New Financial Models Key;

-        Land Release Protocol;

-        More Homes Project;

-        Reform of the Housing Revenue Account and New Rents Policy;

-        Strategy for delivering Council housing being development;

-        More Homes Strategy.

 

The Committee asked a number of questions of the Officers, who responded accordingly.  Discussions centred around the following:

 

·         Reform of the Housing Revenue Account and New Rents Policy;

 

·         Review of LDP threshold and land allocations;

 

·         Section 106 Agreements;

 

·         Examining new methods of delivering strategies;

 

·         Authority control over Housing/Land;

 

·         The need for more one bedroom accommodation in Swansea;

 

·         Partnership working with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and development of an in-house model;

 

·         Affordable Housing based on need;

 

·         The need to co-ordinate Housing with Adult Social Services in relation to housing need.

 

The Chair proposed that the following amendments be made to Chapter 1 - Foreword and Introduction - The Ambition for Swansea, paragraph 3, page 4:

 

“But we also want Swansea to be a healthier, fairer and more economically active place, the city that offers more for children and young people and supports independent living for older people.”

           

Paragraph 5 be amended to:

 

“The vision is that Swansea will be a desirable place to live, work and visit that:

 

• Is a thriving city centre destination that offers excellent shopping facilities and supporting leisure and business opportunities, capitalising on its proximity to the waterfront;

 

• Support for competitive and prosperous economy that acts as a focal point for the wider Swansea Bay Region;

                       

• Capitalises on the distinctive relationship between its vibrant urban areas and outstanding rural and coastal environments;

 

• Celebrates and conserves its unique natural heritage and cultural and historical environments;

 

• Has sustainable, distinct communities in both urban and rural locations that benefit from sufficient good quality accommodation;

 

• Supporting infrastructure, community facilities and opportunities for recreation.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

(1)       the contents of the presentation be noted;

 

(2)       the amendments to Chapter 1 - Introduction and Foreword be           amended as outlined above;

 

(3)       Chapters 1 to 4 of the Local Housing Strategy be approved.

 

The Chair presented the updated Communities Cabinet Advisory Committee Work Programme 2015-2016. 

 

RESOLVED that:

 

(1)       the contents of the report be noted;

 

(2)       an additional meeting be scheduled in order to discuss Chapters 5, 6         and 7 of the Local Housing Strategy.