Agenda item

Report of Director of Public Health.

The OSC received a report providing a progress update on the 2016/17 review of the role of housing in improving health and wellbeing.

The aim of the review was to recommend key housing actions that would have the greatest impact on improving health and wellbeing.

A summary update on progress against the recommendations to date was outlined as well as a more detailed update from the Gateshead Housing Company appended to the main report.

The progress against the recommendations as at April 2018 are outlined as follows:-

Recommendation 1 – review the actions set out in the Housing Intervention Work Plan, and where appropriate, provide Public Health support to assist in maximising the benefits to health arising from delivering elements of the Plan. The evidence presented in the review identified priority candidate elements with the greatest potential to improve health and wellbeing.

Update – progress on delivery of the Housing Intervention Work Plan (HIWP) is being reviewed by DT&PP in consultation with CW&L, and Public Health contribution to this is in place.

The interventions contained within the HIWP are to be integrated within the Gateshead Housing Strategy 2018-2030, currently in draft stage.

Recommendation 2 – ensure that improving health and wellbeing is reflected in the production of local development plan documents i.e. Making Spaces for Growing Places (MSGP).

Update – consultation on the draft MSGP concluded at the end of August, Public Health was a consultee. The draft MSGP is programmed to be reported to Cabinet in October 2018.

Recommendation 3 – review how health and wellbeing is reflected in Council Letting Policies and TGHC support services (i.e. health criteria, preventative interventions)

Update – a review of the Council’s Strategic Transport Tenancy Policy will be carried out as part of the Housing Strategy Review (The Gateshead Housing Strategy 2018 – 2030), is currently in draft stage; due for completion in 2018), and existing Allocations and Letting Policies under review, by the Council and The Gateshead Housing Company). The review will reflect the Council’s agenda to make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives, as well as respond to Government policy and legislative changes, including the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, and ongoing Welfare reform, including roll out of Universal Credit).

Recommendation 4 - assess the current range of Council private sector housing interventions to maximise their contribution to health and wellbeing (including energy efficient programmes, private landlord accreditation, Selective Landlord Licensing, financial assistance programmes, falls prevention, Making Every Contact Count)

Update – this forms work streams of the Housing Intervention Work Plan (HIWP), and will be integrated within the Gateshead Housing Strategy 2018-2030, currently in draft stage. This work will also be influenced by the Council’s agenda to make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives.

Recommendation 5 – undertake actions to ensure that the greatest proportion of Council housing is maintained to a standard that secures the health and wellbeing of residents within the context of changes to revenue and capital funding.

Update – Responsive Repairs Budgets have been protected during 17/18 following the decision to bring delivery of Repairs in-house from April 2017 being delivered by TGHC/Construction.

The Level of Capital investment in Council owned stock has also been maintained to support continued investment in housing stock. Key areas of investment include:-

Maintaining Decency – approx. £11m of investment in elemental replacements, kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems, window replacement, etc.

Equality act, Fire Safety and Energy Efficiency works – approx. £13m of investment in these areas combined, notably during 2017/18 this has included the commencement of the HEIGHTs project focusing on energy infrastructure and fabric improvements to 7 tower blocks, improving thermal efficiency and delivering energy savings for residents.

Additional areas of investment include a programme of external wall insulation to non-traditional stock, electrical works and upgrades to warden call systems for vulnerable residents.

Housing Capital programme includes provision each year of £1.5m for Adaptations to provide aids and adaptations to enable residents to live independently. So far in the financial year (April 2017 – Feb 2018) 315 major adaptations to council dwellings which include installation of equipment such as stairlifts, hoists, through floor lifts and stairlifts. Other home adaptations include level access showers, extensions to allow ground floor living and access ramps.

A further 203 adaptations to private dwellings carried out this year to date through the Disabled Facilities Grant facility.

Recommendation 6 – determine the circumstances where the Council seeks to ensure that high design and space standards are delivered, including accessibility.

Update – the Council remains committed through the Core Strategy & Urban Core Plan, and through the development of Council land, to secure good design within new housing developments.

The 2017/18 Strategic Housing Market Assessment (August 2017) has provided evidence relating to the need for higher space and accessibility standards within new housing development in Gateshead. This evidence is being used to inform the emerging, detailed MSGP local planning policies, however, it has always been established that the assessed need for accessible homes cannot be fully delivered through our planning policy requirements, due to viability constraints; alternative means of meeting this need will have to be considered. Supplementary research is being undertaken to provide additional evidence to support the proposal to research is being undertaken to provide additional evidence to support the proposal to require all new housing development to be compliant with the new Nationally Described Space Standards (NDSS).

The intention is that the draft MSGP will be reported to Cabinet in October.

Recommendation 7 – determine the need for, location of and processes to deliver adequate levels of supported, specialist, and older persons housing.

Update – a review of all specialist and supported accommodation needs is being led by Care, Wellbeing and Learning, in consultation with other Council Services including Communities and Environment, and The Gateshead Housing Company. The review work is covering Young People; Vulnerable Adults; Learning Disabilities; Older People, and will lead to the commissioning of new models of support and supported accommodation.

The reviews will be informed by the findings of the Gateshead Homelessness and Multiple and Complex Needs Health Needs Assessment (HHNA), and will need to reflect the Council’s Thrive agenda.