Agenda item

Impacts of Poor Quality Housing on Health

Minutes:

Sarah Ogilvie (Consultant in Public Health) and Paul Elliot (Low Carbon City Officer) were present for this item and referred to the report in the agenda.  The report provides a brief review on the current housing stock in Plymouth and how this can lead to poor health outcomes for residents in the city.  Councillor Tuffin and Councillor Penberthy called a meeting to discuss the impact of poor quality housing on health and wellbeing.

 

The following comments were made in response to the report -

 

(a)

 

that there were issues with social housing with not enough homes and overcrowding.  There were a significant number of people that live in fuel poverty and do not use heating or fans which attracts damp and welcome the focus on this for the city and for all partners to come to together to get the right outcomes and improving the quality of homes;

 

(b)

 

to promote more widely the Buy with Confidence Scheme to homeowners that have issues with their home and to be able to source a reliable company;

 

(c)

 

the Plan for Homes 3 was signed off this week by Cabinet and a suggestion put forward to the Board to champion this plan.

 

The Chair thanked Sarah Ogilvie for her contribution to the Board and wished her well for the future.

 

The Board –

 

1.         Further acknowledged the importance of housing as a major determinant of health across all representation of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

 

2.         The establishment of an officer group of relevant stakeholders across the city to look at:

·         Scale and mapping of the challenge – building on or existing understanding of local hazards, risks and assets

·         Production of an action plan based on the Sustainable Transformation Partnership (STP) housing challenge paper

·         More innovative commissioning of services which includes preventative measures.

Supporting documents: