Agenda and minutes

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities attended the meeting in order to thank the Chair and the Cabinet Advisory Committee for their work and support.  He added that due to forthcoming changes to Cabinet Members, he would be changing portfolio on 1 September 2015.

 

The Chair, on behalf of the Committee, thanked the Cabinet Member for his work and support as Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities and passed on the best wishes of the Committee to him for his new Cabinet Portfolio.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R A Clay and H M Morris.

 

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 9 July, 2015.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Communities Cabinet Advisory Committee held on 9 July 2015 be approved as a correct record.

 

Addressing the Needs of specific Groups:  Homelessness; Supporting People; An Ageing population; Black and Minority Ethnic Groups BME and Gypsies & Travellers.

The Strategic Planning and Enabling Manager assisted by the Housing Options Manager, the Principal Planner (Policy) and the Access To Services Officer provided a presentation regarding the Local Housing Strategy.  The purpose of the presentation was to review Chapter 6 of the Strategy which encompassed:-

 

·         Homelessness;

 

·         Homelessness - Housing Act 2014;

 

·         Supporting People Programme;

 

·         Aging Population;

 

·         Black and Minority Ethnic Groups;

 

·         Gypsies and Travellers;

 

·         Housing and Sustainability.

 

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

 

·         Inclusion of temporary accommodation unit figures in the Strategy;

 

·         Managing the services in light of the possible resource cuts as a result of cuts being imposed upon local government;

 

·         Reviewing accommodation in conjunction with Social Services, especially in light of future priorities focusing more upon independent living for an aging population;

 

·         The return to Council homes building by the Authority and the forecast on building homes for life;

 

·         Gypsies and Travellers - the outcome responses were still awaited from Scrutiny Committee;

 

·         Accommodation needs assessments in the LDP Deposit Plan to 2025.

 

The following amendments were proposed:-

 

·         Figures relating to permanent accommodation, financial support and a summary and analysis of demand by updated within 6.1 - Homelessness;

 

·         Figures relating to temporary accommodation units be included within 6.1 - Homelessness.

 

           

RESOLVED that:

 

(1)       the contents of the presentation be noted;

 

(2)       the proposed amendments to Chapter 6 listed above be agreed;

 

(3)       a copy of the presentation be circulated to the Committee.

 

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

 

RESOLVED that:

 

(1)       the contents of the report be noted;

 

(2)       the update following completion of the Universal Credit Seminars be          removed from the Work Plan;

 

(3)       a presentation be provided to the next scheduled meeting regarding           Co-operative Housing;

 

(4)       update regarding Food Banks be added to the Work Plan.

 

NOTED that the next meeting be held at 2.00 p.m. on Thursday 11 September 2015.