Issue - meetings

This report considers and responds to a petition on affordable housing.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised to :

(i)                 Note that the Council’s response the RSS Proposed Changes addresses the request in this petition for a higher housing allocation for the city.

(ii)               Note that through its 50% affordable housing policy and the use of the York Strategic Housing Market Assessment the Council is seeking to maximise the number and right type of affordable homes (including family homes) needed in the city.

(iii)             Agree that the most appropriate mechanism to explore any potential review of affordable housing planning policy issues in the City is through the Local Development Framework process;

(iv)             Note that the Council continues to explore opportunities outside the planning system to maximise affordable housing provision.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

RESOLVED :That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON :                 To provide a suitable response to the affordable housing petition received.

Members considered a report detailing a petition received on affordable housing. In responding it refered to two recent reports to the Executive regarding the Affordable Housing Policy Review and the Council’s response to the Secretary of States Proposed Changes to the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), both of which addressed the issues raised in this petition. The report acknowledged the increased housing needs facing the city and the need to maximise the role of the planning system in dealing with these issues whilst also acknowledging that solutions outside of planning will also need to be found to address growing affordable housing need in the city.

Members discussed the importance of dialogue taking place with developers and agreed this should be cross-party.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised to :

(i) Note that the Council’s response the RSS Proposed Changes addresses the request in this petition for a higher housing allocation for the city.

(ii) Note that through its 50% affordable housing policy and the use of the York Strategic Housing Market Assessment the Council is seeking to maximise the number and right type of affordable homes (including family homes) needed in the city.

(iii) Agree that the most appropriate mechanism to explore any potential review of affordable housing planning policy issues in the City is through the Local Development Framework process;

(iv) Note that the Council continues to explore opportunities outside the planning system to maximise affordable housing provision;

(v) Agree that cross party dialogue be entered into with developers on the issue ¹.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

RESOLVED :That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON :                 To provide a suitable response to the affordable housing petition received.