Social Value Ideas for Hertsmere Borough Council

Affordable Housing Delivery - 50% Requirement (19 Units)

Planning application 251347 FUL mandates delivery of 19 affordable housing units (50% of 38 total dwellings) comprising: 9 social rent units and 10 shared ownership units, with a specific tenure mix a…

“The scheme does propose 50% affordable housing. The tenure mix has been agreed with the housing team as set out in these tables here which includes fa…”

Housing enforcement policy update

Cabinet recommended adoption of an updated housing enforcement and licensing policy to reflect major changes in private rented sector legislation. The policy sets out a risk-based approach, expanded e…

“This report is at the other end of its journey, having been here previously and having gone through the consultation process including going to policy…”

Critical Housing Land Supply Shortage

Hartsmere Borough has severely constrained 5-year housing land supply of only 0.98 years against national requirement of 5 years. Housing Delivery Test results stand at just 46%, representing one of t…

“Our current 5-year housing supply is 0.98 years and the housing delivery tests have been below 75%. Also the long view inspector has stated in his app…”

HMO amenity standards consultation

Cabinet approved revised HMO amenity standards for public consultation. The update is intended to strengthen safety, hygiene and management requirements for HMOs, including fire and gas safety, waste …

“The report is seeking cabinet approval to public consultation on a revised policy to improve conditions and standards of management, for people living…”

73-home reserve matters scheme

A reserve matters application for 73 dwellings was presented for land east of Hartfield Avenue, including 45% affordable housing, four custom-build plots, landscaping, drainage and access works. This …

“So this application relates to landline to the East Of Hartfield Avenue and fronting onto Barnett Lane, L Street. So this is just to show you the loca…”

Housing Land Supply Shortage - Shenley Hill Application

Council cannot demonstrate five-year housing land supply. Current supply assessed at between 0.98 and 1.34 years based on appeal decisions. This triggers presumption in favor of sustainable developmen…

“the current 5-year housing land supply is substantially below uh this target and is currently between 1.34 and 0.98 years.”

Council-owned social rent scheme amended

The council-owned site between 22 Catherwick Way and 58 Croxtel Road was being brought forward by the asset management team as a 9-unit social rent scheme. The application included a change in externa…

“This application, is a variation of condition application for the land between 22 Catherwick Way and Hundred And 58 Croxtel Road. The proposal descrip…”

Employment Land Protection Policy - Strict Enforcement

HBC maintains strict policy (CS8, CS10, SADM5) protecting designated employment areas for B-class and warehousing uses only. Medical facility application refused despite committee sympathy with employ…

“the development would be contrary to the development plan in terms of that designated employment area. It wouldn't fall to be a former B use um so and…”

Article 4 Direction Procurement for Houses in Multiple Occupation Control

Cabinet approved £150,000 additional funding to employ temporary specialist consultant to advance Article 4 Direction for Potter's Bar and surrounding wards. Consultant will build technical evidence b…

“our proposal is uh that we actually hire someone not as a staff member um but as an additional resource to the policy team uh to actually uh carry out…”

Article 4 Direction Project Funding Approval and Council Referral

Cabinet approved recommendation to full council for additional £150,000 funding to support temporary consultant position and associated activities for Article 4 Direction project targeting houses in m…

“I would like to invite cabinet to recommend to council that additional funding of £150,000 be provided towards a temporary position and associated act…”

16 data breaches mostly low risk

The information governance officer reported 16 recorded data breaches over the last year, with only one classed as moderate risk and none reaching the ICO reporting threshold. Most incidents were low-…

“We had 16 recorded data breaches for last year. If you look at the table down there, among the 16 data breach, only one of them did I categorize into …”

Annual breach training reinforced

Members and officers discussed the need for annual mandatory training on data breaches, with a commitment to send a reminder to members. The officer also referenced Ziva, a tool already deployed to he…

“This is mandatory training for all staff, which has to be refreshed annually. And it's not something which is presented as a disciplinary issue. It's …”