Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council approve housing and homelessness strategy

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's housing and homelessness strategy was ratified on Thursday night, despite some criticism from councillors that it was not ambitious enough.

The strategy sets out how the council will reach a number of targets over the next four years, including maximising the number of additional affordable homes for rent and ownership, and continue with Help to Buy plus a new Own Home Loan scheme.

It could also see a new emergency hostel built in the borough.

Cllr Tristan Robinson said: "This new ambitious housing and homelessness strategy paves the way for the future housing provision in our borough.

"Whether you are a family looking to bid on your first property through the housing register, a rough sleeper looking to take their first steps into safe and secure accommodation, or a first-time buyer trying to get onto the property ladder, this council is committed to helping get you ahead."

However, despite all 58 councillors present at the time approving the adoption of the strategy, there was some criticism that it did not go far enough, including from Cllr Colin Phillimore, (Overton, Laverstoke and Steventon, Basingstoke and Deane Independent).

He said: "It's difficult not to support the homeless element of this strategy.

"However, the strategy does not go far enough to help people on lower incomes gain access to housing. We are told that social rent is predominant and on the rise, and that waiting times have reduced to a still unacceptable 18 months to two years.

"We cannot record a vote of thanks for those key workers without providing them genuinely affordable homes. In a post-Covid-19 world, this council has to recognise that things don't have to be the same.

"The reliance on the private sector to build homes has cost us, certainly in terms of the threat of unwanted overdevelopment in Bramley, Overton, Oakley and Whitchurch amongst others."

However, his response was criticised by Cllr Robinson, who referred to he and Cllr Ian Tilbury as "members of the Democratic Republic of Overton."

He said: "What's disappointing is then to see the argument against more home in their districts.

"If it was the right thing to do for residents then and if its the right thing to do for residents now, we can't always object to it in our own back yards.

"I suffer from it too in Sherborne St John, and I've almost uniquely gone to committee for a scheme in my ward that wasn't in the local plan, that was providing smaller units to support people getting onto the housing ladder and supported it.

"We've got to be consistent, and if we believe providing smaller, more affordable units is the right thing to do, then we've got to do it, even if it is in our own back yards.

"Hopefully while not agreeing with everything in the strategy and wanting it to be stronger in certain places, we had a good debate and we've made sure that we've edited the strategy taking into account your feedback, particularly in record to social rent.

"We should be stronger as a council in telling developers what we want as a council, and I am hoping that we will be able to do that through the development charter, but also what this housing strategy will do is inform the local plan review."

Cllr Robinson agreed with the views of many members who mentioned that 2024 is too late to end rough sleeping by. Earlier this year, the council managed to temporarily house every rough sleeper in the borough, bar one who declined support.

And it was this action that prompted councillors to want the administration to act faster.

However, Cllr Robinson added: "If we can end rough sleeping sooner, that is absolutely what we will do.

"However, we have to recognise that this is not always just about a roof over people's heads, it's about that wrap-around support."