The Housing Committee of Stroud Council met on Tuesday 25 March 2025 to discuss a range of housing-related matters. Key topics included an update on the New Homes and Regeneration Programme, a review of service standards, and the adoption of new strategies and policies. The committee was also scheduled to consider budget monitoring, counter-fraud activities, and updates on empty homes and tenancy conditions.

New Homes and Regeneration Programme Update

The committee was provided with an update on the progress of the New Homes and Regeneration Programme. The report detailed the current status of various sites, including Gloucester Street/Bradley Street in Wotton-Under-Edge, Cambridge Avenue in Dursley, and Glebelands in Cam, all of which were in contract with Speller Metcalfe Ltd. These sites are expected to deliver 44 new affordable homes, with a mix of social rent, affordable rent, and shared ownership options. The report also highlighted progress on delivering four family homes for temporary accommodation using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), with Orchard Road in Ebley identified as a potential site. Future pipeline opportunities were also mentioned, including land acquired at James Sleeman Close, Nupend, and the redevelopment of land at 11 & 11A May Lane. The committee was also to be updated on the review of the Strategy for New Council Homes, with a revised strategy to be presented in June.

Service Standards Review

Housing Services planned to engage with tenants throughout 2025 to review and update their service standards. The current standards, in place since 2014, were deemed in need of revision to align with corporate standards, regulatory requirements, and tenant aspirations. The review was set to consider feedback from the Tenant Satisfaction Measures survey and scrutiny activity, as well as benchmarking against other authorities. New service standards were also to be developed for the Independent Living Service, Health, Safety & Compliance, and Damp & Mould. A revised suite of service standards was to be presented to the Housing Committee in the coming year.

Adoption of the Council's Housing and Homelessness Strategy

The committee was to consider the formal adoption of a new Housing and Homelessness Strategy, developed across various council departments involved in housing activity. This strategy aims to address current and future housing needs within the community, promote sustainable development, and improve the quality of accommodation for residents. The strategy amalgamates previous separate documents for Housing, Homelessness, and Rough Sleeper strategies, recognising the strong links between these areas. Key objectives include increasing the delivery of affordable housing, enhancing housing quality, and supporting vulnerable residents. An action plan for the strategy was to be developed following its adoption, aligning with the new Council Plan priorities.

Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy 2025-30

The committee was to consider the adoption of a Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy for the period 2025-30. This policy details the financial assistance the council will provide for housing renewal in the private sector, including support for homeowners and tenants in the private rented and social housing sectors. The policy aims to improve housing conditions, reduce Category 1 hazards, promote energy efficiency, license Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and mobile home sites, adapt accommodation for disabled needs, and tackle empty homes. The policy was developed following a consultation period and incorporates feedback received.

Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy

The committee was to consider the adoption of a Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy, which includes a revised procedure for issuing civil penalties. This policy aims to drive up standards in the private rented sector and will replace previous enforcement policies. The wider use of civil penalties for current and future contraventions is intended to generate funds for further private sector housing enforcement activities, supporting the council's growing duties, particularly in light of the Renters Rights Bill. Authority was to be delegated to the Head of Environmental Health to make amendments to the policy and civil penalty procedures as necessary to comply with new legal requirements.

Review of Council Empty Homes Policy

A review of the current Empty Council Homes Policy, adopted in November 2022, was presented for consideration of minor changes. The policy outlines the process for returning empty council homes to new tenancies, including inspections, works to void properties, and the letting process. The proposed amendments were administrative, relating to current titles and corporate formatting, with expansions on temporary accommodation and performance monitoring.

Member/Officer Reports

Several member/officer reports were scheduled for discussion:

• Performance Monitoring: A report on performance monitoring was presented, including updates from the Housing Oversight Board (HOB). HOB noted positive progress in gas compliance and major void relet times, but raised concerns regarding the percentage of properties with recent stock condition surveys, the number of damp and mould cases, and an increasing trend in rent arrears.
• Tenant Representatives: A verbal report from tenant representatives was anticipated.
• New Homes & Regeneration Programme: An update on the New Homes & Regeneration Programme was provided, detailing progress on various development sites and the acquisition of affordable homes.
• Service Standards: A report on the review of Housing Services' service standards was presented, outlining the planned engagement with tenants and the areas to be covered.
• Variation of Tenancy Conditions Rights and Responsibilities: A report detailed the process and results of the consultation on proposed changes to tenancy agreements, primarily to enable the depooling of rents and service charges. The new conditions were to take effect from 31 March 2025.
• Resident Engagement Officer Report Q1: This report outlined the work of the Resident Engagement Team in early 2025, including progress on their 12-month plan, collaboration with internal teams and tenants, and the formation of a new scrutiny group. Challenges such as consultation fatigue and the need for uniform notice boards were identified.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to consider the work programme for the upcoming year, outlining items to be discussed at future meetings, including the HRA Delivery Plan, the Strategy for New Council Homes, and various policy reviews. Items for future consideration included a Vulnerability Policy, Decant Policy, and Income & Recovery Policy.