Issue - meetings

Report of Councillor A Powell, Portfolio Holder for Housing, Communities and Communications

RESOLVED - That Cabinet endorsed the proposed Empty Property Strategy for 2021-24 and agreed that it be adopted.

REASONS FOR DECISION - Adopting the Strategy will enable the Council to reduce the number of long-term empty properties in the District. This would result in more housing becoming available in the District and receipt of additional New Homes Bonus. It would also lead to greater community sustainability and so help deliver the Council’s Growth Strategy.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - Not implementing the Empty Property Strategy would seriously impact upon the Council’s ability to reduce the number of long term empty properties within the District and its ability to deal effectively with the problems associated with empty properties.

Please note that this was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers

Cabinet considered the proposed Empty Property Strategy for the District. The new Strategy, it was explained, would apply only to North East Derbyshire. It would replace the existing joint strategy with Bolsover District Council, which was due to expire shortly.

Cabinet discussed the Strategy. Members heard that it would aim to bring back into use 15 long term empty properties every year. It would seek to do this through a series of initiatives, such as promoting leasing schemes to empty property owners, holding ‘landlord events’ to help develop a healthy private rented sector and by establishing a property matching service, to help bring together the owners of empty properties with those who might want to buy them.   

Cabinet emphasised its ongoing commitment to reducing the number of empty homes in the District. Members hoped that this could be achieved through encouragement and by assistance to their owners, but they recognised that other actions might also have to be taken in order to achieve this goal. In this context, Cabinet noted the specific proposal that a consultation exercise takes place on whether to introduce a Council Tax premium for empty properties.

RESOLVED - That Cabinet endorsed the proposed Empty Property Strategy for 2021-24 and agreed that it be adopted.

REASONS FOR DECISION - Adopting the Strategy will enable the Council to reduce the number of long-term empty properties in the District. This would result in more housing becoming available in the District and receipt of additional New Homes Bonus. It would also lead to greater community sustainability and so help deliver the Council’s Growth Strategy.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - Not implementing the Empty Property Strategy would seriously impact upon the Council’s ability to reduce the number of long term empty properties within the District and its ability to deal effectively with the problems associated with empty properties.