Issue - meetings

(a)       That the mechanisms for returning long term vacant private homes back in to use be noted;

(b)       That the progress the Council has made in delivering the Welsh Government Houses into Homes Scheme be noted;

(c)        That the proposed enforced sales policy and its use in Flintshire be supported; and

(d)       That an all Member workshop be arranged to consider the policies available to tackle long term vacant private homes in Flintshire.             

The Head of Housing introduced a report to provide Members with an understanding of the mechanisms available to tackle long term vacant private homes; an update on the progress of the Welsh Government (WG) Houses into Homes Scheme and to introduce to Members a proposed enforced sales policy, and to seek support for its use. 

                        The Head of Housing detailed the background to the report and explained that the number of vacant homes had been reducing over the last two years and the figure was now approximately 450 long term vacant private homes.  An annual review was undertaken and homeowners of empty properties were contacted to establish whether the Council could give them advice or guidance on how to bring their property back into use.  A small budget of £0.200m had been in place for empty homes but this had now significantly increased due to WG making available £20m of funding for the Houses into Homes Scheme across Wales.  The scheme was being delivered on a regional basis and Flintshire County Council was the lead authority for the scheme in North Wales.  Flintshire had so far claimed £0.950m and distributed that money by way of loans to bring homes into use and the Head of Housing spoke of six terraced properties in Flint which had been brought back into use as a result of the scheme.  The original aim of the loans was that they be repaid in two years if the owner wanted to sell the property, or in three years if the property was to be let. 

                        Councillor Rosetta Dolphin spoke of some large properties in Flintshire which had been vandalised and set on fire and too much work was now required by the owner to bring the properties back into use.  She also commented on other properties that had been refused planning permission to amend or demolish the property.  The Housing Regeneration & Strategy Manager said that he was aware of the properties that Councillor Dolphin had referred to and that the Council was working proactively with the owners to try and bring the houses back into use, but added that lack of planning permission could be a barrier to moving forward and that it was hoped that this could be overcome by closer working with colleagues in Planning. 

                        Councillor Gareth Roberts referred to properties in his ward which were a blight on the community and the residents of the next door property.  He highlighted paragraph 3.06 and welcomed that the Housing Act had introduced the power to serve an Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO) which allowed the Council to service Notice on the owner of a long term vacant property, stating that it intended to take over all responsibility for the property, renovate it and let it out.  The Housing Regeneration & Strategy Manager responded that each case would be looked at on its own merits.  Councillor Paul Shotton sought clarification on the timescales involved and the Housing Regeneration & Strategy Manager explained that when owners had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3