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Contact: A. Norman Email: committees@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk
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APOLOGIES AND SUBSTITUTIONS Minutes: 35.1 Apologies were received from Councillor Ross Piper.
35.2 Councillor Daniel Pratt substituted for Councillor Piper. |
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DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Minutes: 36.1 Councillor Carter and Councillor Smith declared an interest in Item JOS/23/21 due to their positions as social housing tenants.
36.2 Councillor Caston and Councillor Whyman declared an interest in Item JOS/23/21 due to being private landlords.
36.3 The Deputy Monitoring Officer responded that all Councillors are granted a dispensation to deal with housing matters therefore all Members could remain on the Committee and participate in the debate and vote.
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JOS/23/20 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 18 SEPTEMBER 2023 PDF 103 KB Minutes: 37.1 Councillor Smith proposed that the minutes of the meeting be confirmed and signed as a true record.
37.2 Councillor Whyman seconded the proposal.
37.3 By 7 For, 1 Against, and 4 Abstentions
It was RESOLVED:
That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2023 be confirmed and signed as a true record.
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TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNCIL'S PETITION SCHEME Minutes: 38.1 None received. |
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QUESTIONS BY THE PUBLIC To consider questions from and provide answers to members of the public on any matter in relation to which the Committee has powers or duties and of which due notice has been given in accordance with the Committee and Sub-Committee Procedures Rules. Minutes: 39.1 None received.
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QUESTIONS BY COUNCILLORS To consider questions from and provide answers to Councillors on any matter in relation to which the Committee has powers or duties and of which due notice has been given in accordance with the Committee and Sub-Committee Procedure Rules. Minutes: 40.1 None received.
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JOS/23/21 ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE JOINT HOMES AND HOUSING STRATEGY PDF 206 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: 41.1 Councillor Eburne, Mid Suffolk’s Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, introduced the item to the Committee on behalf of the Cabinet Members for Housing outlining before Members the history of the Strategy since its adoption, the commitment for Overview and Scrutiny to conduct annual reviews into the progress of the Strategy, and the updates to the Strategy since it last came before the Committee for consideration.
41.2 The Housing Strategy and Policy Officer presented the item to the Committee outlining before Members the updated delivery plan, the use of an action tracker to monitor progress against the delivery plan, the amendments made to the Strategy in 2022, updates provided to the Housing Programme Board, plans to further include Members in existing and upcoming processes, a summary of progress made towards actions on the delivery plan since October 2022, and provided an update on work towards the Strategy’s 12 key aims.
41.3 Councillor Caston asked what tools were available to help identify land to increase the supply of self-build plots. The Housing Enabling Officer responded that the Strategy focussed purely on Council owned land, that there was a limited supply of available land, and that reviews had to be made to assess whether the land was suitable to support self-build infrastructure.
41.4 Councillor Pearson asked for a definition of affordable housing in the context of the Strategy. The Housing Enabling Officer responded that, whilst there were multiple definitions for affordable housing, the one used in the Strategy was the same as detailed in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
41.5 Councillor Jamieson queried what work was being carried out to make improvements to the environmental standards of our existing housing stock. The Corporate Manager for Housing Transformation responded that there were existing actions throughout the Strategy’s delivery plan, including a stock condition survey, that enabled officers to identify areas of stock falling below standard and implement targeted improvements.
41.6 Councillor Smith queried what the time scale was for collecting data as part of the stock condition survey. The Corporate Manager for Housing Transformation responded that a full comprehensive review would need to be undertaken for all properties and that the proposed timescale for completion was 4 years.
41.7 Councillor McLaren questioned what the Councils currently offer in terms of housing to key workers to help support the recruitment process and the delivery of our key public services. The Corporate Manager for Housing Solutions responded that conversations were currently ongoing with partners across Suffolk about a strict definition of “essential worker” and what could be offered in terms of housing once a definitive demand had been realised.
41.8 Councillor Row queried if the Councils were in a position to apply for the next round of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. The Corporate Manager for Housing Transformation responded that the Councils had collected enough relevant data and would be applying for the next stage of funding.
41.9 Councillor Pratt questioned if the current stock of affordable housing was actually accessible to those ... view the full minutes text for item 41.
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JOS/23/22 FORTHCOMING DECISIONS LIST To review the Council’s Forthcoming Decisions List and identify any items to be brought before the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Please note the most up to date version can be found via the Website:
Minutes: 42.1 The Forthcoming Decisions List was noted.
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JOS/23/23 OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY ACTION TRACKER PDF 83 KB Minutes: 43.1 The Overview and Scrutiny Action Tracker was noted.
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JOS/23/24 BABERGH OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY WORK PLAN PDF 148 KB To agree the Babergh Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan Minutes: 44.1 Councillor McLaren queried if there had been any advancements to an update on the Corks Lane development coming before the Babergh Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
44.2 The Lead Officer for Overview and Scrutiny responded that conversations had been had with the Chief Executive and the Corporate Manager for the Councils’ Companies where a decision had been made that Overview and Scrutiny was not the appropriate body to oversee such an item at this moment in time. Therefore, the item had been taken off the work plan pending further discussion and decisions.
44.3 The Babergh Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan was noted. |
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JOS/23/25 MID SUFFOLK OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY WORK PLAN PDF 148 KB To agree the Mid Suffolk Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan Minutes: 45.1 The Mid Suffolk Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan was noted.
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