Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice to Elizabeth Jackson, Principal Democratic Services Officer, elizabeth.jackson@northyorks.gov.uk and supplied the text (contact details below) by midday on Thursday 14 March, three working days before the day of the meeting. Each speaker should limit themselves to 3 minutes on any item. Members of the public who have given notice will be invited to speak:
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Minutes:
A public question was received from Mrs Anne Seex in relation to Minute number 419 – Housing Strategy 2024 to 2029 as follows:
The on-line consultation on the Draft Housing Strategy engaged less than 0.01% of the adult population and NYC received only 14 ‘stand alone’ written responses. Although the report on the Consultation tries to make the best of it, even within this limited number of respondents 3 in 10 either disagree or have no view on the ‘Vision’ and 4 in 10 disagree or have no view on the priorities.
Many responses comment adversely on the absence of a definition of ‘affordable’ housing, the lack of evidence and relevant statistics, failure to engage with the National Parks as Planning Authorities, failure to recognise the different area needs and characteristics across North Yorkshire.
Cllr Myers previously acknowledged that he did not have access to information about:
* how many new homes, in which areas and at what sale price or rental levels, are required to meet the predicted housing needs of people currently living in North Yorkshire;
* how many homes do not meet decent standards and where such homes are located; or
* what resources North Yorkshire Council predicts it will have to invest in housing in the next 10 years.
Will the Executive now accept that the absence of such information has contributed to the lack of engagement in the consultation on the Draft Housing Strategy, recognise that the draft is not ‘fit-for-purpose’ and defer approving it until further work has been done and there has been meaningful engagement with citizens, social landlords and private landlords, housing developers and community organisations?
Councillor Simon Myers thanked Mrs Seex for her contribution and responded that Consultation on the draft housing strategy took place with a wide range of key partners and stakeholders, which included Registered Providers, Private Landlords, Housing Developers, the two National Parks, all Town and Parish Councils in North Yorkshire, plus a wide range of Community and Voluntary Organisations and the wider community.
Both the National Park Planning Authorities were consulted individually, as well as via the YNY Housing Board. Responses were received from both NPAs to the consultation and amends were made to the draft strategy as a result.
The draft strategy also made frequent reference to some of the different needs and characteristics of various parts of the authority, including the demographic challenges, affordability issues, rural housing challenges, the impact of second homes and holiday lets and the concentration of private rented homes in some localities.
The consultation lasted for 10 weeks and there was a high level of engagement with partners and stakeholders, through various means, including attendance at and participation in forums, events and individual meetings with key partners and stakeholders. There was an on-line survey, which was advertised widely, through various means, including through the Council’s website, targeted social media alerts and media releases. The forums and events ensured that there was consultation with a very wide range of consultees including various Partnerships, reaching a greater range of consultees, such as the York and North Yorkshire Housing Partnership, consisting of over 25 social housing providers operating across York and North Yorkshire.
The Council also undertook a mid-point review of the consultation, which identified a number of key groups where response rates were low. As a result, targeting of those particular groups took place in order to increase response rates.
Overall, more than 500 responses were received, (including 25 specific written responses). 70% of respondents agreed with the Vision, whilst over 60% agreed with both the People and Places themes and 71% agreed with the Homes themes.
It should also be noted that there is no statutory requirement to produce a Housing Strategy and as a consequence there are no prescribed requirements for undertaking such a consultation. The feedback that the Council received to the consultation was analysed and as a result, a number of meaningful amendments were made to the final version, which reflected the feedback received.
We do also accept that further work will be required to build our data and evidence bases. However that is reflected and built into the strategy going forward. It should also be noted that the consultation on the draft strategy was a starting point of dialogue with partners, stakeholders, communities and others, which will be continued as we undertake delivery of the action plans.
In consequence, we consider the consultation to have been comprehensive and robust, with the feedback shaping the final version of the Strategy being considered for adoption.
In response to a supplementary question from Mrs Seex on the benefit of selling homes at half price, Councillor Myers advised that that was not a part of the draft strategy.