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Contact: Democratic Services Email: democratic.services@sevenoaks.gov.uk 01732227165
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To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 5 November 2024, as a correct record. Minutes: Resolved: That the Minutes of the Housing & Health Advisory Committee held on 5 November 2025, be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
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Declarations of Interest Any interests not already registered Minutes: There were none. |
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Actions from Previous Meetings Minutes: The completed actions were noted. Members were advised that once questions had been received in writing a response would be provided. |
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Update from Portfolio Holder Minutes: The Portfolio Holder presented his update highlighting the main developments within his Portfolio. He confirmed that training would be arranged for Councillors on the new changes following the revisions to the Housing Allocations Policy. 10 new affordable homes had been delivered for rent affordable rent via Quercus Housing, including 8 units in Edenbridge and 2 units in Sevenoaks. Capital funding of £1.3m as part of the Local Authority Housing Fund towards the delivery of temporary accommodation for general homelessness need in the district and affordable housing to support Ukrainian and Afghan households had been secured. In the longer term, the affordable housing acquisitions could be used to support our general homelessness need.
Members were also advised that Rural Housing Needs surveys had been completed, and a Temporary Accommodation Nomination Agreement had been developed with West Kent Housing Association (WKHA) to utilise its decanted properties at Bevan Place in Swanley for temporary accommodation for a period of 3-4 years, whilst WKHA take forward options to develop the site. This would help manage the temporary accommodation costs and budget pressure.
The annual rough sleeper count had been undertaken.37 new landlords had been added to the private rented sector landlords register. A number of households had been assisted through the Changing Spaces ‘downsizing’ initiative and the Housing and Community Hub continued to be held monthly at Argyle Road offering a “one stop shop” for a variety of advice. The hub was attended by the Council’s Housing and HERO teams, Citizens Advice, Imago, Involve, Change Grow Live (CGL) and Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Services (DAVSS).
In regards to health, Members were advised that there had been an increase in referrals requiring mental health support. This had resulted in the One You team receiving training in Mental Health First Aid to continue provide best possible service and support to customers.In addition to individual support to clients with lifestyle choices, the One You team have delivered four 12-week Why Weight groups between September to December 2024, three face to face and one online, where 45 participants took part.
The One You Health team co-hosted three Health and Wellbeing events as part of the Silver Sunday project for over 55’s, one being held in each leisure centre in the District. Residents had the opportunity to get advice from different service including health coaches, One You advisors and access the leisure facilities. NHS has also offered to provide health checks and allocate a specialist diabetes nurse to attend the events.
In collaboration with Sevenoaks Primary Care Network (PCN) and Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre we hosted a ‘community walk - blood pressure and wellbeing’ event. One You had worked with Kent County Council’s (KCC) Quit Smoking Team to set up first the Sevenoaks face to face clinic since the pandemic, on Thursday mornings, starting from early 2025 to provide support for residents to quit smoking and vaping. A Rural Health Inequalities project has been supported with funding from the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Health and ... view the full minutes text for item 36. |
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Referrals from Cabinet or the Audit Committee Minutes: There were none. |
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To note minutes of the Health Liaison Board To note the minutes of the meeting of the Health Liaison Board held on 10 January 2024. Minutes: The Chairman advised that the Minutes from the Health Liaison Board had previously been noted in January 2024. |
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Discuss the opportunities and challenges of delivering social housing in the Sevenoaks District.
Minutes: The Chairman welcomed the Chief Executive Officer and the Director of Property Development and Partnerships to the Committee. Members received a presentation which detailed WKHA’s vision, mission and objectives. Within the presentation key highlights of the successes were detailed for the 15 month period which ended on 31 March 2024. Members were advised that a new Strategic Partnership Agreement between WKHA and SDC had been signed in October 2024. This agreement ran until 2027.
The aims of the partnership included preventing homelessness, maximising use of housing stock and a place based approached. This would be achieved by reinvesting into existing homes, disposal of the homes that could not be or were too expensive to retrofit, as well as the creation of more homes. Members were advised of the opportunities and challenges faced, including changing Government policy and the economy. Members were provided with success stories including the Swanley garages regeneration and the completion of Heath Close regeneration, which had been supported by Sevenoaks District Council.
Members took the opportunity to ask questions, which focused on Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings for the properties owned by WKHA. In response to questions, Members were advised that overall the housing stock did comply with the EPC ‘C’ rating and there were around 600 properties that were not at the C rating. A range of options was being explored to how to achieve the ‘C’ which was a sector wide issue. Different organisations were trialling different pilot schemes to explore and feedback. Priority for EPC C was being given to those tenants that were in fuel poverty. A bid had been submitted for the Government decarbonisation fund and technology was continually advancing. All new homes will need to meet the future homes standard.
In response to other questions Members were advised that homes were delivered through S106 funding and WKHA worked with developers. The challenge was for schemes to be financially viable and compromises needed to be made. It was important that homes were built in affordable locations. Loans were also utilised which also borrowing interest rates to any scheme. Access to grant funding became available when whole sites were accessible to WKHA for affordable housing.
Regeneration of existing sites was being explored, but this was not a quick fix solution as it could still take 4 – 5 years for the properties to be brought back into full use. There was the ambition to deliver 900 new homes in Kent over the next 5 years.
Members thanked the Chief Executive Officer and the Director of Property Development and for attending the meeting.
Resolved: That the report be noted.
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Sevenoaks District Health and Wellbeing Action Plan 2024-2025 Quarter 2 update Additional documents:
Minutes: The Health and Communities Manager presented the report which provided an update for quarter 2 of the Sevenoaks District Health and Wellbeing Action Plan 2024-25. There were 50 actions in total which 39 were green, 5 amber and 6 missing figures. There were no reds to report.
Members considered the report and noted their frustrations with some of the partners not producing targets, but acknowledged that this was outside of Officers control. In response to questions, Members were advised that initiatives and activities were based on funding available, and some funding would be used to continue initiatives that were already running but pilot different sports as well. It was considered that by using resources wisely across the health and communities’ team, the Health Team was able to link into community events which were already up and running with a core audience and by using mapping exercises of what is there already.
Members discussed a gap analysis of KCC’s Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) and the Sevenoaks District’s Action Plan noting that the Kent Integrated Care Partnership Strategy had been published and the local health plan, and its targets would influence the ICP.
Resolved: That the report be noted.
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Health and Wellbeing Partnership Action Plan - 2025/26 Additional documents: Minutes: The Health and Communities Manager presented the report which set out the 2025-26 Sevenoaks District Health and Wellbeing Action Plan which was a partnership plan and sets out to deliver against health targets. The new plan consisted of the same SMART targets and objectives as 2024-25 as partners agreed they should stay the same as they need time to be embedded. The Action Plan is a multi-agency document and is monitored on a quarterly basis by the Health & Wellbeing Partnership, to ensure that actions are on target and are helping to meet the identified success measures. Some suggestions which had been received from Councillors had been proposed to the Partners to see if they were deliverable before being able to be included in the plan. Members discussed childhood immunisations, and raised concerns that the rates were dropping. The Health and Communities Manager advised that this was within the remit of the Healthcare partnership but she would discuss this with the partners and feedback to Members. Further feedback was provided by Members on the Committee on the document, including which community and faith groups were contacted to help promote and publicise the work being undertaken. The Health and Communities Manager advised that she would look into the points raised, as there was some cross over with the Community Safety Action Plan. Members were advised that not all the data may be held by partners. Members discussed whether a gap analysis in relation to the wider determinates of health could be undertaken to build a better picture of what was available to the district.
Public Sector Equality Duty Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Resolved: That it be recommended to Cabinet to approve the District Health and Wellbeing partnership Action plan from 1 April 2025.
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Empty Homes - 1 Year on update Minutes: The Head of Housing presented the report which provided the annual review of the adopted Empty Homes Strategy which had been developed with the aim to bring long term empty homes back into use. The Housing Strategy 2022- 2027 contained four key themes to focus on the District Council’s Housing Service over the next 5 years. These included theme 2: Promoting quality and optimising range and suitability of new and existing homes, which had an objective of fewer empty homes.
The Council make use of the powers conferred by the Local Government Finance Act 2012 and the Rating (Home in Common Occupation) and Council Tax Act 2018 to levy a premium rate of Council Tax as an incentive to owners of long term empty homes to bring these back into occupation by sale, letting or renovation.
The updated Empty Homes Strategy year 1 action plan was attached at Appendix A of the report, Members were advised of the key highlights which included Empty Homes Database developed and process for bringing Empty Homes back into use and this included: · 47 - Survey Letters distributed to Empty Homeowners across the District · 34 - random visits · 20 - Empty Homes brought back into use · 1 - works commenced with Owner to bring Empty Home back into use · Promotion of the No Use Empty Scheme · £240,000 income received from the Empty Homes Premium in 2022-2023 (the Council can only retain 10%) · Participated in Kent Housing Group and relevant subgroups to learn from and share best practice
Challenges and Barriers faced by the Housing Service were set out in paragraphs 13 to 19, highlight and the key highlights to Members were, the lack of engagement from owners, lengthy and complicated probate process, and difficulties and costs of taking enforcement action.
The Council approach to engage with owners and work with them to understand why properties are empty and finding tailored solutions to bring them back into use. Negotiation with property owners and the “threat” of enforcement action remain the Council’s most resource effective approach.
Members asked questions of clarification and were advised that letters regarding the empty homes were sent to those properties as it could be that those were the only details held. Most empty homes were due to lengthy probate, but an increase had not been seen.
In response to a question regarding Compulsory Purchase Orders Members were advised that the law was very prescriptive for when those powers could be used and the areas it covered. The Head of Housing advised she would provide Members with an update, that also covered costs.
Action: For Head of Housing to provide Members with details of Compulsory Purchase Orders for empty properties.
Resolved: That the report be noted.
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Accessing the Private Rented Sector - challenges and opportunities Minutes: The Head of Housing presented the report which updated the Committee challenges and barriers facing the Council when trying to access the private rented sector to end its statutory homelessness. The report set out the key data in respect of demand for social housing in the District, the increasing demand and complexity in homelessness cases, the rise in the number of applicants on the Housing Register and fall in the number of lets from our Registered Provider partners.
Section 23 to 29 of the report set out the Private Rented Sector Housing picture in the District and Sections 30 to 54 of the report explained the work the Housing Service completes to engage with Landlords, the incentives on offer and how the council ensured that the accommodation met decent home standards and how support would be provided to tenants to maintain and sustain their tenancies.
The Committee were further advised of the challenges and barriers for the council with the key external factors including, lack of affordability, housing allowance rates not reflecting private sector rental values, small supply of affordable housing, private landlords leaving the market, among other reasons. The report also detailed the Council’s key areas of focus for the year. Members were reminded of the Renters Rights Bill which was currently progressing through parliament and the Measures that would be introduced.
Members considered the report.
Public Sector Equality Duty Members note that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Resolved: That the report be noted.
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Minutes: The work plan had the following additions:
Spring 2025 · Impact of the Renters Right Bill · Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre update · Moat Housing – delivery of affordable housing
Summer 2025 · Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy · One You service update · Dartford Gravesham and Swanley health projects update · English Rural Housing – delivery of affordable housing |