This report provides an overview of work undertaken and progress towards the delivery of the Council’s priorities as set out in the Our Manchester strategy for those areas within the portfolio of the Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration, which provided an overview of work undertaken and progress towards the delivery of the Council’s priorities, as set out in the Our Manchester strategy, for those areas within her portfolio.

The Chair invited Dr Marc Hudson from Climate Emergency Manchester to speak.  He welcomed the fact that Northwards Housing had achieved Platinum level for Carbon Literacy amongst their staff and that One Manchester had converted a block of maisonettes to meet the PassivHaus standard as well as deliver new build PassivHaus homes.  He commented that it would be good to know when conversations around winning hearts and minds would become Council policy.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committees discussions were:-

·                More information was requested on the role of Manchester Housing Providers Partnership and how this information could be shared with all Councillors;

·                What were the number of affordable homes that had already been built;

·                How many illegal evictions had been addressed;

·                More information was requested on the work being done to tackle short term lettings;

·                Could an update be provided on the Landlord licensing pilot;

·                There was concern around the number of HMO’s issued with hazard letters and the enforcement notices served for serious disrepair;

·                What was the time scale for the drop in session in connection to Project 500; and

·                Had the initial stages of the Northwards Housing review commenced.

The Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration advised that the feedback form the first meeting of the Manchester Housing Providers Partnership had been positive and useful.  Going forward it was planned that these meetings would take place on a quarterly basis and will take a steer form Members in terms of theming these meetings in order to address some of the persistent issues hat Members are facing in their wards.  In terms of the work associated with Winning Hearts and Minds, this was conversations taking place with the Council’s social landlords and was centred around delivering a consistent message around individual responsibilities associated to climate change and the small changes that individuals could make to make a difference.

The Committee was advised that land and resources for over 50% of the Council’s affordable housing target had been identified and consultation with Ward Members would be undertaken in regards to specific sites. 

The Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration reported that there had been success in relation to the work around addressing section 21 evictions and the work of the compliance and enforcement team, which had focussed around improving standards of accommodation for residents.  In terms of short term lets, a task group had been brought together from across the Council to manage the neighbourhood impact of such lest, however, it was commented that a steer from Government was really required, akin to Scotland, in order to provide the powers necessary in Manchester to address the problems associated with such types of lettings.

The Committee was also advised that in terms of Landlord licensing, it was the Executive member’s ambition to extend this scheme beyond the current four pilots to an additional four areas.  Feedback so far from the pilots has been positive, highlighting that by having a very targeted approach, there was the ability to make a real impact on areas where standards were lowest and presented the most challenges.

It was reported that the HMO licencing scheme was in the process of scaling up and it was anticipated that the impact of this would result in more enforcement action being taken against properties that did not meet the necessary standards. 

Furthermore, the Committee was advised that Project 500 drop in sessions had been agreed for the end of February and the Northwards Housing review was in the process of being concluded, which would be reported back to a future meeting.

Decision

The Committee notes the update.