Portsmouth City Borough Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness Meeting

Apologies were received from James Hill, Director Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services and Jo Bennett, Assistant Director, Housing Need and Supply.

Due to transport issues, Mary Buxey, Residents Consortium Representative, arrived too late to take part in the meeting.  However, her comments were provided later and are included in these minutes.

There were no declarations of interest.

Clare Hardwick, Head of Private Sector Housing, presented the report, the purpose of which was to present the update draft Empty Private Residential Property Strategy 2025 - 2030 which outlined the Council's approach to addressing empty private homes in Portsmouth. The strategy highlighted the Council's key aims and strategic approach on how it intended to address the issues of empty homes in Portsmouth.

Resident Consortium

Mary Buxey provided her comments following the meeting as follows:

She was focused on bringing back into use empty commercial dwellings in the city, turning them into residential accommodation.  Officers outlined the limited influence the council has to compel commercial property owners to convert into residential dwellings as well as the planning and other considerations that sat alongside that. 

Regarding student accommodation, Mary had concerns over an imbalance and the high number of student accommodation in the city.   Mary provided officers with some positive feedback concerning the strategy and was pleased to see the Council focus on this area.

Members' Questions

In response to Members' questions, officers clarified:

·       The strategy outlines that the approach with each empty property must be tailored to understanding the individual circumstances in each individual case.  There were a multitude of complex situations that could lead to a property being empty long-term and therefore a whole toolkit would be needed to deal with these varying situations.  In some situations, a lighter touch would be needed such as signposting to resolve the situation.  However, some of the longer-term empty properties may require a dual approach including enforcement powers to bring the property back into use.  The strategy was outlining how the service wanted to work with colleagues throughout the council, outside organisations and other stakeholders to try and use all the resources available to achieve the best solution.

Members' Comments

Members stated they would be interested in the outcome of the consultation and agreed that it should go ahead.

Cllr Sanders noted that the idea around education versus enforcement was a hard judgement call but it was positive there would now be set of principles to work to.  He welcomed the strategy and noted this was a significant improvement on the previous strategy.

DECISION

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness:

1.    Agreed the draft strategy in principle for the Council's Empty Private Residential Property Strategy 2025 - 2030 at Appendix 1.

2.    Approved the non-statutory consultation to be undertaken from 2^nd June 2025 to 7^th July 2025.

3.    Instructed officers to bring a final version of the Empty Property Strategy 2025 - 2030, following the non-statutory consultation, to a decision meeting in September 2025 for approval.

Emma Randall, Interim Head of Housing Supply, presented the report, the purpose of which was seek approval from the Cabinet Member for capital funding to convert the former Wecock Farm Area Housing Office, to deliver 4 council homes and to include the addition of a budget to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme, funded from borrowing and either grant or retained capital receipts, and delegations to the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services to deliver the project after appropriate consultation.

Members' Questions

In response to Member's questions, officers clarified:

·       Within the conversion profile the service looked at a number of options for the number of residences without making too many adaptations within the costing profile.  In terms of allocation, the Council's existing allocation policy would be used to ensure it provides move on accommodation for families and reduces the pressure on the Temporary Accommodation needs.

·       The reason that the service had now been set in the community centre was to be more visible to residents.  Feedback has shown that they are now seeing more demand and are busier than before.  People are now coming in to use the café and mental health services and then are being driven towards the service.  There was now more connection between all the services based at the community centre which would help to provide the kind of support residents need.

·       There had been no CIL money for the scheme there had just been a S106 contribution towards the Solent Scheme.

·       An electric heating solution was being considered for the scheme and it would be built in line with all current building regulations and would aim to be as aspirational as possible with the view to try and alleviate fuel poverty issues for residents.

·       The Affordable Homes Grant Programme was the current 2021 - 2026 programme.

·       The accommodation would be built by April 2026.

·       The extension to the Homes England affordable homes programme funding was to be prioritised for social rents. The service had already started a conversation with Homes England to understand what that might look like and to present them with the information about this scheme and to see if they could accommodate the social rent formula with the funding.  They would continue to review that in line with the recommendations at 2.3 of the report.

Cllr Sanders stated he would want the issue of social rents to be relayed to Homes England and to continue to be looked at to provide those social rents for residents.

DECISION

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness:

1.    Approved the addition of a scheme for the conversion of Wecock Farm Area Housing Office via the HRA Capital Programme, to deliver 4 new council homes, with a budget of £759,000, phased as £506,000 in 2025/26 and £253,000 in 2026/27.

2.    Delegated authority to the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Resources & S151 Officer, to amend the rent profile, composition and spending profile of the proposed scheme in order to meet regulatory, design and procurement requirements and also to agree the use of HRA unsupported borrowing, along with either grant funding or retained capital receipts, whilst ensuring that the schemes remain financially viable following any necessary changes.

3.    Delegated to the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services to apply for any grant funding to support the scheme.

4.    Delegated to the Director of Housing, Neighbourhood and Building Services, in consultation with the City Solicitor, an ability to enter contracts to enable the development.