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Updates from Cabinet Members
(previously circulated) were noted by the Committee and the Cabinet
Members for Tourism, Localism and Planning, Transport and Economic,
Regeneration and Investment were welcomed to the
meeting.
 
Present Cabinet Members updated
on the following:
 
- 
The Cabinet member for Economic, Regeneration and
Investment informed the Committee of his recent visit
to  Langarth.
- 
The Cabinet Member for Transport referred to a
forthcoming Peninsula Transport meeting and a meeting with a
Plymouth bus contract provider to ascertain its approach in
providing services.
 
A question was put to the
Cabinet Member for Housing, by Councillor Magowan,  as follows:
 
· 
Acknowledging the important investment for family
homes and the temporary acquisition programme it was considered
that investment of £17.2M equating to £340,000 per
house was an expensive way to home families in need.  The Committee Member queried plans for the next
and future years in order to reduce the 490 households in expensive
nightly paid placements.
· 
Clarification on the tenure arrangements for
families moving into the 50 homes.
 
The Service Director for
Housing and Planning advised that when families were in temporary
accommodation they were effectively on a short term licence whilst
the Council assisted them to find a permanent home.
 
She advised that it was
expensive to purchase homes through the open market but stated it
was cheaper than paying for people in bed and breakfast but a view
would need to be taken by the new administration on how they wished
to take the issue forward. 
 
The Cabinet Member for
Economic, Regeneration and Investment stated that the new
administration would focus on homes for local people on the land
and sites that Cornwall Council owned. 
He acknowledged previous previously with regards to poor quality
property but stated that the administration’s aim was to have
more homes in the Council’s control and/or ownership that
could be used for both homes and temporary
accommodation. 
 
· 
Concern was expressed by Councillor Mitchell on the
Homechoice model of provision and the
importance of a better geographic spread.
 
The Service Director for
Housing and Planning advised that the 50 homes currently being
purchased were spread across Cornwall but acknowledged there were
challenges of buying properties in West Cornwall. 
 
 
Action:
 
All questions fell to the
Cabinet Member for Housing.  The
Chair asked for the responses as outlined in the minutes to be
circulated to the Cabinet Member and for the Cabinet Member to
respond direct to Cllr Magowan and Cllr Mitchell.