Agenda item

Jeremy Porteus, CEO & Founder, Housing Learning and Improvement Network and Ian Copeman, Business Director summarised the presentation as set out at pages 55-76 in the agenda pack.

The following main points were noted in the discussion:

• The Committee queried about accommodation availability in the borough and it was advised that there had been a trend towards vertical living and introduction of new schemes on housing above shops. It was noted that a key priority from a GLA perspective was around fire egress. There was also importance given to access to amenities, NHS facilities community hubs, green space, public transport and social connectivity.
• The Committee noted that a lot of the sheltered housing was built in the 1960-1980, often at relatively low densities and in urban boroughs it was important to look at existing specialist and supported assets, particularly in terms of affordable housing in the borough. It was also stated that another London borough had introduced a new strategy to demolish some of their sheltered housing schemes introduced in 1970s, that were very low density on prime sites and redeveloped social housing and created new and additional housing for their older citizens.
• In response to a question on funding for sheltered accommodation, it was noted that sheltered accommodation was being repurposed into supported living and there was a diverse range of provisions. In terms of accommodation choices for people with complex needs, often sheltered housing was a last resort, which puts a lot of pressure on providers in terms of managing people who were vulnerable with more complex needs. It was added that there was still a demand for good quality sheltered housing and the commercial sector, private sector and housing associations had been exploring this.
• In response to a question regarding the National Planning Policy Framework changes, it was stated that issues around housing for older people were more explicit and would like to see a guidance given for local authorities to look at Use Class Orders and to also make sure that there was supplementary planning guidance that can be created at a local level to reinforce planning intentions of local authorities. The Committee noted that there were currently debates on whether there should be a dedicated Use Class Order for Extra Care housing and if this was sufficient.
• In response to a question regarding intergenerational housing and affordable housing in Islington, it was advised that there would be new allocations for Extra Care and Supported Living Housing within new developments in the borough. Premises that were being developed prioritised in being age friendly so they could be adapted at a later time to meet the needs of the individuals. It was also noted that intergenerational housing and communities would create healthier living across generations, as well as increasing community resilience for relational care and support.
• The Committee asked about culturally appropriate care facilities for people from different ethnic minority backgrounds, in response it was stated that there had been work carried out with the South Asian Community to understand that the service models used in local authorities were culturally relevant and culturally competent. Further work had also been carried out with the Bangladeshi community across Newham, Tower Hamlet, Hackney and Redbridge to better understand their needs.
• The Committee queried about tackling issues around older people housing provision, in response it was advised that an asset review of the stock and suitability of the stock could be reviewed. Access could also be reviewed to understand how people are accessing these services and see whether people need to move to a more appropriate accommodation. It was also added that the 5-year plan could be looked at to review the demand model to provide more diverse opportunities in terms of housing. The Committee also noted that local authorities were looking at providing a very targeted amount of specialised accommodation and supported living, but also looking how mainstream housing could be better changed so that the design was more suitable in the long-term enabling people to have better quality living experiences in their homes.

RESOLVED:

That the presentation to be noted.