Town Planning Committee 27 June 2007
From Nigov
Town Planning Committee Wednesday, 27th June, 2007
Contents |
SPECIAL MEETING OF TOWN PLANNING COMMITTEE
Members present
Councillor Lavery (Chairman); and Councillors Hendron, Maginness, McClenaghan, Moore and O'Neill.
Also attended
Councillors Hartley, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Mullaghan ` and O’Reilly.
In attendance
- Mr. R. Boyd (Members' Support Officer)
- Miss L. Hillick (Committee Administrator)
- Mr. P. McIntyre (Northern)
- Mr. M. Johnston (Ireland)
- Mr. R. Hawe (Housing)
- Mrs. J. Hawthorne (Executive)
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Long and Rodway.
Northern Ireland Housing Executive's Belfast District Housing Plan 2007/2008
The Chairman (Councillor Lavery) welcomed to the meeting Mr. P. McIntyre, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, together with Mr. M. Johnston, Belfast Area Manager, Mr. R. Hawe, Belfast Area Planner and Mrs. J. Hawthorne, Principal Information Officer. He reminded the Members that the deputation was in attendance to address the Committee regarding the Executive's District Housing Plan 2007/2008 and that copies of the Plan had previously been circulated to them.
Mr. McIntyre explained that, since 1979, District Housing Plans had been produced annually by the Housing Executive for each of the District Council areas. The Housing Plans were produced to provide an assessment of the needs and trends in the housing environment, to provide information on the Housing Executive's performance over the previous financial year and to fulfil its statutory obligations to consult with Councils on the programmes which had been developed to address housing needs. He stated that the Housing Executive appreciated the ongoing contribution being made by the Council's Elected Representatives in relation to housing issues in the City. He highlighted a number of key areas within the Plan and, in particular, referred to the fact that the average house price in Northern Ireland had increased by 32% during 2006. He pointed out that the Housing Executive had been proactive in highlighting the shortfall in available affordable housing and the need for investment. The housing shortage had resulted in pressure on all sections of the housing market and the organisation welcomed the publication of the Housing Affordability Review, which had been undertaken by Sir John Semple.
Mr. Johnston provided an overview of the Belfast District Housing Plan 2007/2008. He reported that, in the current financial year, the Executive had allocated a budget of £47.4 million in relation to its key activity areas. He then referred to the various factors which would affect the organisation during the current financial year including:
(i) the comprehensive Spending Review 2007 and the Review of Public Administration;
(ii) the recent population projections, which had indicated a growing demand for housing in Northern Ireland across all tenures;
(iii) the integration of related themes contained within the Sustainable Development and Lifetime Opportunity Strategies;
(iv) the delivery of a housing needs assessment in relation to the Department of the Environment's Draft Development Plan; and
(v) the management of the Social Development Programme which had been transferred to the Housing Executive during April, 2007.
After discussion, the Chairman thanked the deputation for the information which they had provided and the Committee agreed to note the contents of the Plan.
Chairman
