Issue - meetings

To consider the head of housing and environment’s report. 

Cabinet considered the head of housing and environment’s report which sought adoption of the Empty Homes policy and to delegate authority to the head of housing and environment to make minor amendments to the policy in future.

The Cabinet member for community health and wellbeing presented the report and highlighted what the policy sought to achieve. She went on to inform Cabinet that by adopting the policy a proactive approach to bringing properties back into use would be implemented with the addition of a staff member to deliver this. There was the potential to increase the number of properties coming back into use through proactive engagement not just those identified in the report.

Cabinet were encouraged to see the report which went towards achieving the corporate objective of providing the homes needed in the district. Cabinet were keen to ensure that communications were put out to raise awareness of the policy.

RESOLVED to:

(a)       approve the adoption of the Empty Homes policy;

(b)    authorise the head of housing and environment to make minor amendments to the policy in the future.