What is the policy/strategy/function trying to achieve/do?
Homes for a Thriving Tomorrow is the Housing Asset Management Plan (HAMP) designed to set out the approach to strategic investment in NLC housing stock over the next five years from 2026-2031 and is a replacement for the previous HAMP ‘Homes Fit for the Future’ which is about to expire.
Our homes are good quality and affordable and we have ambitious plans to build more new homes, invest in renewable technologies to improve energy efficiency, enable innovation and sustainability through digital infrastructure and regenerate our town centres.
Social landlords operate within a dynamic landscape shaped by evolving socio-economic conditions, fiscal pressures, legislation and policy developments. These factors present both challenges and opportunities for effective asset management. Our plans can only come to fruition if we fully utilise and invest in our housing assets. It is crucial that we regularly evaluate and thoroughly understand the risks associated with these external influences to enable us to adapt, enhance and future-proof our asset management strategy.
If this policy is subject to the FSD what does it suggest about the impact or potential impact on socio-economic disadvantage?
Yes, this strategy is subject to the FSD as the actions contained within it have an impact on socio-economic disadvantage. The HAMP is primarily aimed at improving council housing stock which impacts on our tenants. However, some of our actions are wider than this which impacts positively on wider households and communities. This includes:
- Building more social homes for rent to enable improved access to affordable housing.
- The regeneration of our town centres which will improve the local environment.
- Our work to actively seek funding sources to assist in the refurbishment and improvement of blocks of flats where the ownership is a mix of council owned, owner occupiers and private landlords (some with sitting tenants). This work improves the fabric of the building, insulation and heating systems to improve energy efficiency.
- Assisting in the delivery of the council’s digital connectivity project to reduce digital exclusion.
- Our drive towards reducing carbon emissions through the delivery of green heating systems.
Give details of the impact it has on groups and individuals
The HAMP is primarily aimed at investing and improving the standard of council homes through a range works including fire and building safety requirements, repairs and upgrades such as new windows, bathrooms and kitchens, etc. It also aims to move towards the utilisation of green energy sources to heat homes such as solar panels and heat pumps to help alleviate fuel poverty and reduce heating costs for our tenants but also meet carbon neutral targets.
For example, evidence indicates that older and disabled people are disproportionately affected by low income and, in some cases, material deprivation. The actions in this strategy will benefit all tenants, but people in more disadvantaged groups including those mentioned above, may benefit more from the energy efficiency improvements since they will assist in alleviating fuel poverty by reducing energy costs.
Our wider work to increase the availability of affordable homes, help regenerate our town centres, improve digital connectivity and help meet carbon emissions will have a positive impact on other groups such as care experienced young people, homeless people, asylum seekers etc, since our aim is to address inequalities of those who are disproportionately disadvantaged. The actions have a direct impact on all groups of people, but some more disadvantaged groups will benefit more than others.
What actions/measures will be put in place or are planned to mitigate any adverse impact or promote equality?
There are some opportunities to strengthen the HAMP delivery and mitigate adverse impacts.
As a result of feedback on the draft HAMP, the graphs and charts within the final document are being reviewed to ensure colour clarity for those with sight impairments and the revised version will be published on the council website. This ensures we meet our equalities requirement around the accessibility of the document.
Once the new IT repairs system is in place, a review of the potential to deliver an appointment-based repairs service can be completed to address the adverse impacts on disabled people who need to rely on others to answer the door for them.
Regular monitoring and evaluation is built into the HAMP processes and will enable robust data collection to inform future priorities and alignment of equality of opportunity for all.
What is the result/recommendations of the EqIA
To implement the new HAMP following approval at Committee.