The Resident Services Committee met to discuss and provide feedback on the Housing Renewal Policy 2025 and the Community Buildings Policy, ahead of their consideration by the Cabinet. Councillor Jo Slimin was appointed as Vice-Chair of the committee for the 2025/2026 municipal year.

Housing Renewal Policy 2025

The committee discussed the draft Housing Renewal Policy 2025, which aims to improve housing standards and support vulnerable residents. The policy includes provisions for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs), Discretionary Home Improvement Loans, and Low Carbon Loans and Grants.

Key discussion points included:

• Eligibility of Housing Association tenants: Clarification was sought on whether tenants in housing associations were eligible for assistance. The Environmental Health Team Leader confirmed their eligibility, contingent on a referral from occupational therapy via Hampshire County Council.
• Policy Monitoring: The committee requested more information on the policy's monitoring processes.
• Promotion of the Policy: Members enquired how the council was promoting the policy to residents.
• Digital Exclusion: Concern was raised regarding digital exclusion, and the Environmental Health Team Leader assured the committee that the team provides assistance with form completion as needed.
• Referencing Previously Means Tested Benefits: A suggestion was made to specifically reference benefits that had previously been means tested within the policy, to help residents determine their eligibility more easily.

The committee resolved to recommend to the Cabinet that:

1. The name of the policy be amended to better reflect its coverage.
2. The policy should reference figures related to claim types, performance measures, waiting times and any relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to give context to the volume of claims, budgets and performance.

The Housing Renewal Policy 2025 aims to address several challenges: aging housing stock, energy inefficiency, increased demand for adaptations to support independent living, and poor conditions in the private rented sector. The policy outlines targeted financial assistance, including DFGs to help older and disabled residents live independently, discretionary home improvement loans to address serious hazards, and low carbon loans and grants to encourage energy efficiency improvements.

A key change in the updated policy is the inclusion of new initiatives to support vulnerable residents, such as disregarding war-related income when means-testing for a DFG, and providing financial assistance to help palliative residents return home from hospital or hospice by enabling necessary home adaptations. The policy also proposes a slight increase in maximum low carbon loans and the provision of a relocation grant to assist families who need to move because their current property cannot be adapted for a disabled household member.

The policy is drafted with consideration to the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002, which requires the council to adopt a housing renewal policy to set out the forms of assistance they will provide to address local needs.

Community Buildings Policy

The committee discussed the draft Community Buildings Policy, which outlines the council's approach to providing new community buildings and improving existing ones up to 2042, aligning with the new Local Plan period.

Key discussion points included:

• Safeguards Against Contribution Preference: Clarification was requested on safeguards to prevent developers from choosing to make a financial contribution rather than directly delivering community buildings.
• Community Use in Perpetuity: Members questioned whether there were protections to ensure community buildings remain for community use in perpetuity.
• Policy Scope: A suggestion was made to clarify that the policy does not cover all community assets.
• Master Planning: The importance of master planning across smaller sites to ensure infrastructure is included where needed was emphasised.
• Storage for Local Groups: The issue of storage for local nature and biodiversity groups was raised.
• User Feedback: It was suggested that user feedback from those involved in community buildings should be sought during the design phase.
• Developer Engagement: It was acknowledged that developers have varying priorities, with some being more open to engagement and collaboration than others.

The committee resolved to recommend to the Cabinet that:

1. The policy should include a preferred storage space standard, as the current allocation of 10% of floorspace for storage is often inadequate.
2. The council should review how planning policy can embed a requirement for funding to align with the policy aims of the Community Buildings Policy provisions and ensure that developer funds are ringfenced.
3. The name of the policy be amended or to include a reference to explain that it is a separate policy to the community assets policy.
4. Consider including heat maps in the policy to illustrate existing and proposed community buildings.

The Community Buildings Policy aims to ensure a network of community buildings across the borough that meet community needs and contribute to wider community outcomes. The policy defines a community building as:

a building that is open to the whole community, run for public benefit, is a focus for neighbourhood activity and involvement and hosts a range of locally based social, recreational, cultural and educational activities and volunteering opportunities.

The policy's objectives include having a network of community buildings in the right place, supporting the provision of fit-for-purpose buildings, and ensuring that community buildings are viable and responsive to local needs.

The policy was developed in line with the findings of the Leisure and Recreation Needs Assessment (LRNA) Update 2022, which recommended a minimum set of policy standards, including a quantity standard of one new community building (or equivalent floorspace) per 1,726 persons, and travel time standards of 15 minutes walking in urban areas and 15 minutes driving in rural areas.

Review of the Work Programme

Paul Beevers, a visiting speaker, requested the committee consider scheduling an update of the wellbeing strategy, a revitalised Biz project, and a review of the strengthening communities policy on their work programme. The Chair advised that topic suggestion forms had been received and would be reviewed and timetabled with relevant officers. A report on funding for community groups and the voluntary sector was suggested for the November meeting, along with a review of leisure needs.