Portfolio spotlight: Housing, Property, and Regulatory Services
Published: 27 December 2023
The priorities for this administration are built around the people of Derby
Councillor Shiraz Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Property, and Regulatory Services looks back on the year and ahead to 2024
I’m proud to be this administration’s first Cabinet Member for Housing, Property and Regulatory Services, and am delighted with the progress we’ve seen over these first seven months.
As we head into the final days of 2023, I wanted to reflect on the excellent work that that officers have carried out in this area.
The priorities for this administration are built around the people of Derby. We want to build a Derby that is better for you and that we can all be proud of. A city that is safe and with equal opportunities for all.
Our Trading Standards team has been working extremely hard to keep shoppers of all ages safe in Derby. Underage, illicit tobacco and vape sales have been a real problem in Derby and beyond, but our Trading Standards team have been hard at work tackling the issue. This work often goes unseen, but I was extremely proud to see the BBC shine a light on their work tackling underage vape sales by showcasing one of our undercover operations, which you can watch on the BBC iPlayer.
Derby’s most recent Housing Stock Condition Survey highlighted the poor condition of a number of older properties within the city. Thanks to a successful bid to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, we’ve been able to tackle some of the disrepair in housing across Abbey, Arboretum and Normanton wards.
Teams from the Council have been proactively inspecting houses this year and have so far identified 305 properties for improvements, 267 of which are in the private rented sector. Inspections will be continuing into the new year to identify the next six streets to undergo improvements once the first phase has been completed.
Going into the new year, I will be focusing on implementing a new Good Landlords’ Charter and a Supported Housing Provider Charter. At the heart of these will be keeping residents safe and secure in their homes.
I will also push forward with a new Local Plan for Derby, that encourages community-led housing projects, curbs HMO build-up and ensures affordable housing projects that prioritise low carbon homes. I expect a consultation on this to go live later in the year for you to have your say.
The environment is a key area of focus for this administration, and the delivery of more low carbon homes will play a key role in this. I’m very proud to say that this year we took big steps towards this, with the construction of four homes on Cummings Street by Derby Homes that are not just low carbon but better than net zero.
Over a year these homes will generate more energy than they consume, which is a huge milestone in our commitment to reducing Derby’s carbon emissions. Environmental benefits aside, these properties will provide homes that are more affordable to heat and run for families who need them.
It has been a privilege to serve Derby as Cabinet Member and I look forward to an exciting year to come.