New housing strategy for Perth and Kinross considered by Committee
The Housing and Health Committee approved the Council's new Local Housing Strategy (LHS) for 2009-12 when it met on Wednesday 3 February.
Housing legislation requires local authorities to undertake a comprehensive assessment of housing needs and conditions, and then produce an LHS in full consultation with community planning partners in order to tackle housing issues in their areas.
The Council's previous LHS, prepared in 2004-2009, has now come to an end. Members of the committee will be asked to approve an updated LHS for submission to the Scottish Government.
The new LHS:
- Provides an overview of the housing system in Perth and Kinross
- Provides a strategic framework for the future development of the local housing system, through which housing providers and investors can operate so that housing demands can be met efficiently
- Establishes a shared understanding of the issues and priorities where some form of intervention is required
- Sets objectives and targets, and shows how progress will be monitored.
The LHS also has four main objectives: addressing housing requirements; promoting sustainable and mixed communities; improving stock conditions and energy efficiency; assisting people with particular needs.
All Councils are now required to supplement their LHS with the inclusion of a Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) to show how affordable housing investment policies are to be delivered in practice. The SHIP for 2010-15 will also be considered by the Committee.
Members also approved the new SHIP, and agreed in principle to use £578,000 from the Council Tax Earmarked Reserve to assist with the purchase of suitable affordable housing sites in Scone, Perth, Kinross, Blairgowrie and Bridge of Earn.
Councillor Peter Barrett said: "As Housing and Health Convener I am determined that we make real progress on increasing the number of affordable houses built in Perth and Kinross. There is an acute shortage of affordable housing for local people, which impacts on all aspects of life. This is especially the case in our rural areas.
"Ensuring that Perth and Kinross is a place where everyone enjoys good quality housing is a key priority for Perth & Kinross Council. With this in mind, the Council has produced this new LHS aimed at tackling affordable housing issues.
"This updated LHS and the accompanying SHIP will build on the excellent work we are already doing to address the issue of affordable housing.
"For example we have overseen the development of around 180 affordable housing units on average per year, and successfully bid for money to build 26 new Council houses.
"We have promoted improved management standards in the private rented sector by increasing the number of registered private landlords to provide accommodation in rural areas and introduced a number of innovative projects to help us reach our goals.
"A good example of this is the Council Tax Fund for Affordable Housing (CTFAH) which has created a fund from council tax on second homes owned in the area to provide affordable housing.
"The provision of affordable housing is a vital issue for the future of Perth and Kinross and we will continue to work closely with Housing Associations, private landlords and the Scottish Government in an effort to make more accommodation available, and to champion the housing needs of people in our area both locally and nationally."
