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The Committee received and considered the Principal Strategic Planner's report which set out to advise Members of the continuing serious shortfall in housing delivery, and its implications.
The Principal Strategic Planner reported that the chronic shortfall in housing delivery in the Borough is now approaching a critical point, and that although a range of measures are in place to support delivery, these measures were unlikely to fundamentally change the situation.
It was reported that there has been a chronic under delivery of housing against local needs and targets. Despite active endeavours to support delivery, and a 5 year land supply being demonstrated to date it is unlikely that there will be a sufficient increase in completed dwellings in time to avoid the eventual loss of a five year supply of deliverable housing land. In that event it will become difficult to give much weight to Local Plan policies affecting such development, or resist housing development proposals that are not seriously problematic in terms of national policy.
The Chairman raised concern to the current unsatisfactory position, and he was advised that the Borough Council was not alone on a national scale in the current position.
Councillor Reynolds also raised his concerns in relation to the current position and asked when the last Local Plan had been reviewed, and he was advised that the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment is undertaken annually and that processes that the processes have changed dramatically.
Councillor K Grey asked who set the targets for the housing delivery, the Principal Strategic Planner advised that the methodology was set nationally, Councillor Grey questioned who had identified the housing need and she was advised that the objectively assessed housing need was undertaken by nationally respected independent consultants and that this had been agreed by the Local Plan Working Party and by Full Council.
Councillor Thirtle stated that with the intervention of the newly formed Local Authority Trading Company it was hoped that new developments would be sought to maximise housing delivery. The Chief Executive Officer stated that there were a number of options that could be undertaken by the Council. Councillor Wainwright stated that there was a need for more rental accommodation to be made available.
Councillor Hammond raised concern in relation to the targets that had been set and stated that he felt this number should be brought down to a deliverable amount.
Councillor Wainwright suggested that a letter be written to the local MP to outline concerns raised and state the need for a change in the formula for Housing.
RESOLVED :
That the Committee notes the current adverse position regarding housing delivery, and the likely implications of this.