Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: January 27, 2025

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED:   1.  The Hackney Housing Strategy Position Statement, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, was agreed.   2.  The temporary position was adopted ahead of the formal publication of the new five-year strategy   REASONS FOR DECISION   Cabinet approval of the Housing Strategy Position Statement 2024/25 is sought in order to provide the Council and its partners with a vision and a roadmap to guide their housing and related activities until the publication of the new strategy. This is also intended to provide Hackney residents with a clear and accessible summary of the Council’s priorities and approach to meeting the borough’s housing challenges over the coming years.   There has been little to no improvement to the accessibility of housing for those on average household incomes over the years, with the average house price always sitting between 13-19 times the average income. With the average house price at £590,000 and average household income at £31,580, outright ownership is simply not a viable option for many. In July 2024, average monthly rents soared to £2,361 a month, making it clear that any and all affordable housing options still remain a high priority in the borough.   The Council and its partners have an excellent track record in the provision of new affordable housing. Despite this, growing demand in London and severe and worsening housing affordability have meant that housing need is rising faster than supply.   There are still over 3,400 homeless households in temporary accommodation and over 8,500 on the waiting list. There are residents with increasingly complex medical conditions and disabilities, including large multi-generational families caring for each other in the same dwelling. These more complex housing needs put even more strain on the housing register, health services and social care teams and make the need for more housing and more specialist housing even more acute. The Council will be unable to continue delivering key services and duties with the current stock if nothing changes.   The decision to produce another position statement on the Council’s housing priorities was to enable Hackney to align its new Housing Strategy priorities with the direction of travel for the Local Plan review, due to take place in 2025.   Adoption of the proposed Housing Strategy Position Statement does not itself have any direct financial implications. The Strategy contains a list of broad actions for the Council and partners that will provide a clear framework for ensuring that available resources are targeted towards meeting need. It is expected that the vast majority of actions could be delivered within existing or identified budgets.   DETAILS OF ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED   A Housing Strategy is not a statutory requirement for local authorities, an alternative option for the Council would be not to produce this position statement and leave a gap between the strategies. However, it was decided to produce this position statement because of the benefits that it offers. Some of these are set out below, and all of which could be lost if there was no strategy in place: ·  It clearly articulates the Council’s proposed response to the huge housing challenges faced by the Council and its residents. ·  It provides a clear statement of the Council’s vision and priorities for housing, for residents, partners and other stakeholders. ·  For Council officers and partners in particular, it helps shape actions and helps target resources towards meeting the highest housing needs. ·  It shows how housing and other services across Council will work together to help address the housing and housing-related needs and aspirations of residents. ·  It highlights linkages and sets out how housing and housing providers can contribute to residents’ health and wellbeing, as well as enabling residents to secure training and jobs. ·  Together with planning policies and guidance, it provides other housing providers with an overarching statement of the Council’s priorities and approach. ·  It will directly shape a detailed action plan that will be drawn up and implemented if the proposed paper is adopted. ·  It helps to address how we will approach our priorities in the present context, as there are a number of significant changes that have occurred since the previous strategy was published.