The Task and Finish Group received a presentation from the Assistant Director of Community and Customer Services and Housing Standards and Environmental Officer on ‘Ensuring a Healthy Standard of Living for all’ policy area from the Marmot report.

The presentation provided members with forecast for private rents and the impact this had on people renting accommodation from private landlords.  It was also noted that poop housing conditions also has an effect on child development, adult health and could affect income and employment.  In particular the presentation outlined the impact on unhealthy, overcrowded and precarious homes.  The Group raised questions about influencing behaviour and financial assistance available to residents.

Resolved:

Housing

(i)        Consider how we can improve our advocacy role as a result of the work being done to understand what enables and deters people from coming forward with their housing issues;

(ii)       Consider options to address poor quality housing in specific and defined areas. To include:

                                          i.    A selected licensing scheme

                                        ii.    A housing company owned and managed by the council

(iii)      Ensure the new post for Climate change addresses energy efficiency issues in housing under their remit.

Debt

(iv)      Re-design support services to better enable individual needs to be met in a holistic (instead of silo-ed) way;

(v)       Consider a Home and money Hub – and link to on-going discussions re Health and well-being Hubs with volunteers and third sector organisations as potential providers; and

(vi)      Train front-line health and (social) care staff to understand needs and service options around housing and financial advice.