Agenda and minutes

The Committee noted the evacuation and housekeeping procedure.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 9 September 2024

AGREED the minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2024 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive evidence from Housing Action Teesside and Northern Housing Consortium.

The Committee received a report from Housing Action Teesside (HAT), which was a tenants union and housing campaign representing hundreds of tenants across Teesside. Their report, ‘Council Housing in ‘Stockton’s Future’ summarised the extent of housing need in Stockton-on-Tees and how they felt it could be resolved. The Chair of HAT presented the report, highlighting the key concerns which included:

·       Feasibility – The report noted examples of other Councils that were building affordable housing

·       Necessity – It also noted that Registered Providers, particularly Thirteen, were the main organisations building affordable housing in Stockton-on-Tees Borough but were not building enough to meet the need. The housing register was also growing, which was a national trend. It was suggested that this had an impact on private rented tenants who were not reporting issues to their landlords due to the fear that they would be evicted with no other housing options. It was further suggested that tenants that were made homeless were placed in unsuitable areas and were at risk of anti-social behaviour. The rehousing of Dawson House in Billingham added to the pressures on housing in Borough.

·       Accountability – It was suggested that the current situation was not working for tenants, with them feeling lied to and ignored, and trapped in homes that were unsuitable either due to their need and/or the state of repair. It was also suggested that the situation was not working for Members, who had a responsibility to tenants when situations went wrong.

The report asked for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) to follow the models given as examples within the report and provide alternative affordable, council, housing.

The main issues discussed were as follows:

·       It was noted that the concerns raised regarding the undersupply of affordable housing were shared by the Committee. Members had seen an increase in the number of people on the housing register and people were waiting longer for housing that met their needs, often while living in unsuitable properties. The review was looking at all options, which included building council housing,  and gaining an understanding of market pressures as well as what could be influenced and changed.

·       Members raised House in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and the issues that they could create in the community with anti-social behaviour. It was noted that those who were seeking help with housing from the Council needed to be placed in suitable accommodation and support provided. It was acknowledged that people who were not able to access housing via Registered Providers due to rent arrears and anti-social behaviour would face similar barriers if SBC provided council housing.

·       The stock transfer process that took place was discussed and it was noted that tenants chose to move to a registered provider rather than remain as  council tenants. It was suggested that this was due to the limitations imposed on Local Authorities by previous governments to access the funding to refurbish their properties.

·       It was noted that when identifying other local authority areas who had announced they were building council housing, some  ...  view the full minutes text for item PLA/32/24

Consideration was given to the Work Programme.

It was noted that the Committee would pause the review, standing down the December meeting, to allow for the option appraisal to be carried out. The Committee would receive information from the option appraisal in January 2025 as part of its evidence gathering prior to being reported to Cabinet, and an additional informal meeting scheduled to consider the summary of evidence. The final report would therefore be agreed in March 2025. This would ensure that the Committee received sufficient evidence to make informed recommendations.

The next meeting would be held on Monday 11 November 2024, to consider the progress update on previously agreed recommendations for the Scrutiny Review of Domestic waste Collections, Kerbside Recycling and Green Waste Collections and an informal session to review the evidence gathered to date for the Scrutiny Review of Affordable Housing.

AGREED that the Work Programme be updated to reflect the changes agreed above.