Issue - meetings

At a meeting held on 27 September 2011, the Adult and Community PDS Committee (A&C PDS Committee) and Portfolio Holder considered the current housing market supply and need position within Bromley and the proposed initiatives and direction undertaken to address the disparity between that need and supply which had resulted in an increased use and cost of temporary accommodation and associated budgetary pressures.

As part of its recommendation, the A&C PDS Committee resolved that the report be referred to the Development Control Committee meeting for members to note matters raised within the report and to consider what action the Council could take to assist when developing and applying its planning policies.

Councillor John Getgood emphasised the Borough’s need for more affordable housing and to ensure that housing standards were met at all times.

Councillor Fawthrop suggested that one way of alleviating the pressure of housing supply would be for housing associations to implement the right to buy schemes and he emphasised the need for social housing to be kept in good repair.

Councillor Michael stated that the Council had exceeded its targets to supply new housing and considered that the Council should not be held responsible if developers were not constructing new builds.

Councillor Michael enquired about the progress made in providing accommodation above shop premises and whether the Council still sought volunteers to share their accommodation with young vulnerable people who were on their own.  Councillor Mrs Manning commented that the Council were looking at the properties it owned to assess whether such properties were appropriate for residential use. 

The Chief Planner advised Members that initiatives to address problems had not been abandoned and that the Council was continuing to do all it could.

RESOLVED that the matters raised in the report, the pressures faced by the Council in meeting its statutory housing duties and the general matters raised concerning the housing market in Bromley be noted.