Social Housing Needs versus Objectors/NIMBYs?

This is a combination of me out walking out along the seafront to Bulverhythe, then to Filsham Reedbed, and reading another excellent article in the Hastings Independent (website), which highlights the problems Hastings Borough Council have in building affordable and social housing, and what they are doing to try to solve the issue. That article is well worth the read, I recommend you do.

One of the objections to council plans comes from the Bulverthythe Protectors (website), who appear to be making reasonable objections to council plans for Bulverhythe, so it's not just the council versus simple NIMBY-ism, there's plenty more to it, and that goes for other areas of Hastings too. 

The Hastings Independent article explains that there is agreement among all political parties on the council that more social housing is required, but it appears to be the reality that they will never agree how to do anything, which is one of the reasons I stopped attending council meetings (it became monotonous the outright opposition to everything the council proposed by the political opposition).

Anyway, I thought it was worth writing this blog, a beautiful walk to Filsham Reedbed (which I've written about many times before, eg blog), if you ignore the crossing the main road at Bulverhythe 😉 and the attempts by Hastings Borough Council to build more affordable and social housing, and their difficulties and honest objections...

New Housing Policy?

Down by Pelham Beach, opposite the Albion pub, with Hastings & St Leonards Sea Angling Association behind, and just to the east of the Crazy Golf courses, first one new shelter was built, quickly followed by another two, and some nice raised flower beds.

Since, I have seen up to three individuals sleeping rough here at any one time, in a combination of one or two of the shelters, but now...

Someone appears to have set up home in the middle shelter, the belongings are always there, whatever time, and, despite winds coming from the west recently, the hardy occupant sleeps there every night. Is this an example of affordable housing?

I doubt it helps the chippy opposite though...

Room for more Affordable Housing?

With all the recently trumpeted concern over DfLs, surely someone could find the money for this, as there certainly is room in West Street for affordable housing for locals...

Council Watch - February

Yesterday evening I went to observe the February 'Cabinet Committee' of Hastings Borough Council in that room above the entrance as you look at my photograph, that is, the Council Chamber. As I've related before, it is quite a grand room, let alone building, and typical of a Victorian municipal building in its grandeur. There is a high ceiling leading into that roof space, and 4 foot high wooden paneling around the room, but it really does need a fresh lick of paint on the walls!  

Anyway, it was an interesting meeting, very little party political posturing on this occasion, though some evident a few times. There was one decision reached that was of great importance to people requiring social housing, plus the adoption of a 'Discretionary Council Tax Relief' policy, as required by statutory regulations, a letter relating to which is to be sent to our M.P. All decisions made this day were unanimous, as I said, very interesting...

 

The setting up of a pilot 'Private Sector Leasing Scheme' as part of the "establishment of a Social Lettings Agency" was agreed last night. It had been recognised that councils around the country have implemented Social Letting Agencies managing housing supplied by the private sector, for example, Havering Council have been running such a scheme for over 10 years, and members of Hastings Council have liaised with Havering.

Also, a feasibility study, including consultation with the housing charity Shelter, found that there is a significant demand for affordable social housing in Hastings, and that there is a large supply of private rented accommodation that could meet the demand. Indeed, many private landlords have already expressed interest in the leasing scheme, as they are dissatisfied with some letting agencies' services, as are many tenants.  

This scheme would mean property owners leasing accommodation to the Council, who would sub-let to those in need of housing. The full cost would be met through rental income and Housing Benefit, and was agreed to be cost effective. Phase 1, the 'pilot' programme, will be for the year from the 15th of April, when between 60 and 100 properties are to be incorporated into the scheme. If successful, the scheme will be enlarged and extended in following years. Congratulations to the Council on this venture!    

Finally, the committee agreed to recommend the adoption of the Council's 2015/16 Pay Policy to the full Council, also patting itself on the back for being a 'Living Wage' employer, that is, all Hastings Borough Council employees earn a 'living wage', nice one!