Decision details

To approve the draft Affordable Housing Strategy for a minimum six-week period of consultation.

The draft Affordable Housing Strategy builds on, and provides detail to support, the Council’s corporate priority of ‘providing housing choices’.  It includes relevant context and background information followed by Key Objectives and Actions for the future provision of affordable housing.

The main objective within the strategy is to provide more affordable homes, ensuring they are the right homes in the right places for those in need of affordable housing.

The strategy contains a series of steps that will be taken and will be supplemented by detailed action plans and policies in order to ensure the delivery of the key objective.   In addition to committing to the delivery of new Fareham Housing (i.e. Fareham Borough Council) stock, the strategy also recognises the importance of new affordable home delivery through the planning system and by Registered Providers.

If approved, this draft Affordable Housing Strategy will be published for a minimum six-week period of consultation.  This will provide the local community and any other interested parties with the opportunity to comment on the content of the Strategy.  Following this period, and once any necessary amendments are incorporated, it is intended that the Affordable Housing Strategy will be presented to the Council for adoption, (replacing the current Housing Strategy (2010) and Affordable Housing Strategy (2005)).

An Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) of the strategy will be undertaken before it is recommended for adoption, Any relevant issues or matters raised as part of the consultation on the draft document, that are pursuant to the EIA, can then be considered as necessary.  It is not considered at this time that the content of the draft document has any detrimental impact in relation to EIA considerations.

RESOLVED that:

(a)  the Executive agrees that the draft Affordable Housing Strategy (as provided in Appendix A of the report) be published for a minimum six-week period of public consultation; and

(b)  the Deputy Chief Executive Officer be authorised to make any necessary minor amendments to the Draft Affordable Housing Strategy, prior to publication, provided these do not change the overall direction or emphasis and following consultation with the Executive Member for Housing.