Agenda and minutes

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1.

Question from: County Councillor Gareth Ratcliffe Subject: Second homes and strategy on housing for Powys residents pdf icon PDF 46 KB

 

Question From:

County Councillor Gareth Ratcliffe

Subject:

Second homes and strategy on housing for Powys residents

Question To:

County Councillor Aled Davies, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Transport and County Councillor Iain McIntosh

Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Planning & Housing

 

Question:

 

I read with interest the BBC article on Welsh Governments plans for second homes.  I have previously raised questions around the number of second homes in Hay and on reading this I feel residents of Powys need more information.

 

We are seeing our communities hit by the increasing in house prices and low income of the area.  This is just not detrimental to our young families who are being forced out of Hay but also it is hitting our main street due to homes being left empty for most of the year or being used as Air B&Bs who in some cases bring all their goods with them from off when visiting thus not putting money into the Powys economy.  Whist as a council we supported the tax increase on second homes 2 years ago have the council seen any improvement in reduction of second homes.  There is a balance that our town need so tourism can flourish but if the balance is wrong either way it can hit the community. 

 

Can the council provide an update on the number of second homes in Powys by area and registered Air B&Bs? 

 

Can the council provide the strategy for housing that keep families in our community?

 

Will the portfolio holder be willing to meet myself and local representatives to discuss how we can work together to get the best for our community and ensure we have housing that supports our community needs? 

 

And finally, would the portfolio holder release a statement on the council's strategy on housing for Powys residents?

 

Here is the link to the article Second homes in Wales: Pilot scheme planned to tackle 'crisis' - BBC News

 

 

Minutes:

Response by the Portfolio Holders:

 

Has the Council seen any reduction in second homes, since supporting a Council Tax increase on second homes?

 

No, since the Council introduced the premium, numbers have remained fairly consistent with a slight increase over the years to the current level by 125 homes. The current level of homes as at April 2021 is 1311. It should be said too that numbers do vary in year due to changes in circumstances of properties and owners.

 

Can the council provide an update on the number of second homes in Powys by area and registered Air B&Bs? 

 

Attached is a spreadsheet with empty and second homes on it with a percentage of the area property base.

 

We are not able to produce a list of registered Air B&B’s by area.

 

Can the council provide the strategy for housing that keep families in our community?

And

Would the portfolio holder release a statement on the council's strategy on housing for Powys residents?

 

The Council recognises the challenges in providing sufficient homes to meet the growing needs of Powys. In 2022-2023 the Council will be developing a new Housing Strategy as the current strategy is expiring. The new strategy will cover all aspects of the housing market, identifying where markets are most unbalanced and who is best placed to bring supply and demand into balance. This work will be informed by the forthcoming Local Housing Market Analysis, due to be completed by the end of 2021 and an enhanced housing market research capability in Housing Services as a result of a service re-design (‘Moving on Up’).

 

Initiatives already in place which will underpin the new Housing Strategy include:

H  A new approach through the Powys Affordable Housing Programme Delivery Plan Guide to encourage and influence investment by housing associations and the Council’s own Development Team to meet evidenced housing market needs.

H  Proposals to encourage development by private developers of social homes for the Council to own and manage.

H  A new development programme is in place for 401 affordable social homes, provided by the Council and housing associations, subject to support from the Welsh Government.

H  A range of loans and support is already in place to bring empty homes back into use – there are proposals to expand this further.

 

Will the portfolio holder be willing to meet to discuss working together to get the best for our communities and ensure Powys has housing that supports community needs? 

 

Cllr McIntosh has advised: “I am more than happy to meet and work together with all Powys County Councillors, and community members across the whole of Powys, to support their community housing needs where possible”.