Leader's blog - 9 September 2024
"The Housing Committee meets on Tuesday 17th September to a discuss a wide range of issues.
One of our key aims is to ensure that our tenants are able to continue living safely in their homes. We will be approving updated electrical and gas safety policies. I am pleased to confirm that it is our intention to increase the frequency of our electrical testing by testing to every 5 years from the current 10-year period. Another way in which we support our tenants to live well in their homes is by the provision of aids and adaptations to their properties. We will be reviewing our policy which enables us to support aids and adaptation works recommended by an occupational therapist.
We are also extending our private sector housing renewal policy to enable us to provide disabled facilities grants for those in the private sector and those who own their own home. This again helps to deliver work that is recommended by occupational therapists.
Housing was a major issue in the General Election, with an acknowledgement by all parties that more housing is required. We are keen that we play our part in the provision of new housing. The last time the country was able to build 300,000 new homes was more than 50 years ago. This was only possible because local authorities built over 40% of all new homes then. Without the contribution of local authorities that target will not be met. We will be discussing a recent report by Southwark and other councils which sets out a number of key steps to ensure that council housing remains sustainable and able to make a significant contribution to meet the housing crisis. It has a number of measures that government can take to help solve one of the biggest issues of our time."
This week's blog was written by Cllr Gary Luff, Chair of Stroud District Council Housing Committee