1. SUMMARY

1.1. The Investment Strategy sets out a five-year strategy for the investment in affordable housing and the Empty Property Strategy seeks to set the strategy for dealing with bringing empty buildings back into use. Both strategies have corporate implications for Bath and North East Somerset

2. RECOMMENDATION

2.1. That the investment strategy is noted;

2.2. That the Investment Strategy is reviewed annually and the review is reported to Housing and Public Protection Committee.

2.3. That the Empty Property Strategy is noted.

3. RESOURCE AND CORPORATE POLICY IMPLICATIONS (Where necessary, the views of the Council's Statutory Officers are reflected in the comments below)

3.1. Financial: Any existing or proposed scheme involving the use of Local Authority Social Housing Grant is covered by the capital resources allocated and agreed as part of the Housing Investment Programme.

3.2. Staffing: There are no staffing impacts directly resulting from this report.

3.3. Equalities: Those homes created as part of the Investment Strategy or Empty Property Strategy where the Council has nomination rights with a Registered Social Landlord (housing association) partner (usually 100% initially and 75% there after) will be allocated according to the Council’s allocation policy which incorporates equality principles. Where possible the principle of lifetime homes for people with disabilities will be incorporated in design standards. In addition Registered Social Landlord partners have equalities policies for allocation and management of homes.

3.4. Economic: During the building period for new or refurbished homes, construction jobs are created locally and other related jobs created in the local building supply industries.

3.5. Environment: The environmental impact of each scheme is different, but generally the type of scheme dealt with by the Empty Property Strategy will improve the existing housing stock, however the Investment Strategy will make investment on some green field sites. In all cases applications for planning and other consents will be considered in the light of the Council’s Local Plan Policies.

3.6. Council Wide Impacts: Any proposed schemes for the development of social housing will need to address social and community issues, and obtain the necessary planning and other consents.

4. BACKGROUND AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK

4.1. Following the transfer of homes to Somer Community Housing Trust, the council has received a substantial capital receipt. From this, around £18 million is intended to be spent on the provision of new affordable social housing to meet local housing need.

4.2. The reuse of empty of underused property can help meet housing need and can help reduce the need for Greenfield development.

5. INVESTMENT STRATEGY

5.1. The Investment Strategy (appendix 1) sets out the strategy for the investment in affordable housing for the next five years which will be used as the basis for the allocation of the Local Authority Social Housing Grant.

5.2. The first phase of schemes for Local Authority Grant have been approved by the Housing and Public Protection Committee. Further allocations will be made in the coming months to ensure full cash spend of the budget, thus committing the Council to expenditure in subsequent financial years.

6. EMPTY PROPERTY STRATEGY

6.1. The Empty Property Strategy (appendix 2) sets out a strategy for bringing empty properties back into use. Working with the general public, private owners, landlords and housing associations the strategy relies on corporate working to be successful. This is a high profile strategy, and it is hoped public awareness will be raised on the issue through articles, advertising and advice. A target of sixty properties to be brought back into use this year has been set.

7. CONSULTATION

This report was sent to the Trades Unions for comment on 2^nd September 1999, any comments received will be reported to the meeting.

This version was printed 16/09/99 14:58