This is an overarching document that focuses and co-ordinates a number of other related priorities, including providing adequate specialist housing for those needing care and support, improving the living environment and quality of life, providing an integrated approach to housing advice and homeless prevention, providing a mix of new housing and tenures and reducing the cost pressures on adults and children's services.

(i)       that the revised version of Torbay’s Housing Strategy 2015-2020 setting out the Mayor’s response to the recommendations of the Council and Overview and Scrutiny Board as attached at Appendix 1 to this Record of Decision be approved as the Mayor’s formal response; and

(ii)      that the final revised version of Torbay’s Housing Strategy 2015-2020 and the original Appendices 3 and 4 to the submitted report considered by the Council on 10 December be considered at the Council meeting on 3 February 2016.

To respond to the Council’s objections to the Housing Strategy.

None

The revised report will be considered at the Council meeting on 3 February 2016.

At the Council meeting on 10 December 2015, the Council formally objected to the draft Housing Strategy on the basis that:

i)        the targets contained therein are not sufficiently specific, measureable, attainable, relevant and timely;

ii)        the targets contained therein are not sufficiently ambitious;

iii)       the strategy does not detail sufficiently how the Council’s assets will be utilised in order to deliver the strategy;

iv)       the strategy is not clear whether the delivery plans contained therein are considered to be a part of the Policy Framework;  and

v)       that the role of Overview and Scrutiny in the Housing Partnership Steering/Monitoring Group is not clear.

In accordance with paragraph F4.9 Standing Orders – Budget and Policy Framework the Council required the Mayor to consider the objection and by 8 January 2016 either

a)       submit a revision of the Housing Strategy with the reasons for any amendments to the Council for its consideration;  or

b)       inform the Council of any disagreement that the Executive has with any of the Council’s objections and the Executive’s reasons for any such disagreement.

The Mayor has considered the recommendations of the Council and Overview and Scrutiny Board and his proposed changes to the Housing Strategy in response to all the recommendations is set out in red text in the document attached at Appendix 1 to this Record of Decision.

None