Housing Strategy 2009-2014 - South Derbyshire District Council

South Derbyshire District Council Housing Strategy 2009 – 2014
9.1.3 The Council will need to consider how best to maintain and fund up to date
housing needs research as well as develop its understanding of the current and
future needs. As the district continues to grow with an anticipate growth of some
605 homes planned each year it is particularly important to understand the needs
of minority groups who may choose to migrate to the district. e.g. the Asian
communities are likely to migrate further into the South Derbyshire area from
Derby City as housing grows on the fringes of Derby.
9.1.4 Like most Councils, resources are limited, therefore it is important that resources
are targeted to those issues, which are strategically important. There are several
other strategies in existence both led by the Council and other partners, which
include housing related actions. The Housing Strategy provides the overall strategic
direction for housing in the district and links directly to the Sustainable Community
Strategy. The ‘theory’ is that all housing action planned for the district should be
delivering the objectives set out in this strategy. Therefore a review of all housing
related actions needs to be undertaken to ensure that they are delivering the
strategic housing aims.
Key Issue: Continuously improving; ensuring that limited
resources focus of the key strategic issues to be addressed;
maintaining up to date housing needs data.
9.2 Value for money and resources
9.2.1 With limited resources it is imperative that the Council provides value for money.
The Council’s Financial Strategy sets out how the Council will plan and
manage its financial resources. This sets out a criteria as to how funding is
allocated to meet priorities. This process includes setting out how a project will
meet local, regional and national priorities, the level of risk involved, and the
level of partnership working including external funding levered in. Each project
is assessed by a Member and officer panel and scored.
9.2.2 The Council’s funds are held in two separate accounts. The General Fund is
made up of income from Council Tax, business rates, government grant and
Council services and is used to deliver all Council services except those directly
connected with Council housing sock. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) uses
income from rents and service charges to provide management and maintenance
services to Council tenants.
9.2.3 Of the Housing Revenue Account resources the Council also receives a ‘ringfenced’
allocation which government stipulates is used on housing related projects.
This includes the Major Repair Allowance which assists with the improvement of
council homes to meet the decent homes standard, capital receipts from the sale
of council homes may be used, a grant for the prevention of homelessness and a
supporting people grant to assist older people to live independently.
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