Issue - meetings

To receive and consider the enclosed final report, recommendations and action plan in respect of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Task Group inquiry with Preston and South Ribble into Affordable Housing.

That the findings and recommendations of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Task Group be received and that the Executive’s response to the recommendations be determined at a future meeting.

The Executive Cabinet received and considered a report of the findings and recommendations of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Task Group that had been set up by the Chorley, Preston and South Ribble Councils to consider issues around the provision and access to affordable housing for both rent and sale.

The joint inquiry had been instigated in response to concerns that the delivery of affordable housing would be unable to meet the needs of expanding communities and the Task Group had examined the measures that could be taken to overcome current barriers to the delivery of affordable homes.

The report contained a number of recommendations for consideration by the three Authorities, together with an action list showing the current status of the recommendations contained in the Affordable Housing Service Improvement Plan approved by the Executive Cabinet in June 2009.  The Executive Member (Business) intimated that, whilst a number of the recommended actions had already been initiated, a few of the proposed measures still remained to be addressed.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Councillor Dennis Edgerley) highlighted the challenges that had protracted the completion of the inquiry, which should be borne in mind whenever other joint inquiries were contemplated.

Decision made:

That the findings and recommendations of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Task Group be received and that the Executive’s response to the recommendations be determined at a future meeting.

Reason for decision:

The decision will allow the Executive the opportunity to assess the inquiry’s findings and recommendations before firm decisions on implementation are reached.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected:

None.

To receive and consider the enclosed final report, recommendations and action plan in respect of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Task Group inquiry with Preston and South Ribble into Affordable Housing. 

The Chair welcomed Councillor Peter Malpas (Executive Member (Business)) to the meeting.

Members received and considered the final report, recommendations and action plan in respect of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Task Group inquiry with Preston and South Ribble into Affordable Housing.

The Chair advised there were useful recommendations within the report that, in some cases, the Executive Cabinet had already implemented as part of the Affordable Housing action plan.  Councillor Malpas supported the recommendations, in particular, those made to the Homes and Communities Agency. 

The inquiry had been a learning experience with regards to joint scrutiny. 

RESOLVED - The report be presented to Executive Cabinet for consideration in December 2009.