PRAISE FOR HOUSING IN THANET

Thanet has been highlighted as an example of good practice in a new report, looking at housing, produced by a national watchdog.

The Audit Commission, which is an independent organisation, working to promote value for money for taxpayers, has just produced Building Better Lives, getting the best from strategic housing.

In it, it cites Thanet's introduction of additional planning policy in Cliftonville West to restrict the development of one bedroom flats, as good practice. The council was also commended for its work in bringing empty properties back into use and its partnership work with other councils on the No Use Empty campaign.

The Audit Commission report goes on to state that "these examples illustrate that paying attention to these issues and devoting relatively modest resources to them can have considerable impact." The report also says that "creative councils have worked in partnership to tackle homelessness, reclaim empty properties and improve housing quality in ways they could not have achieved alone."

The report, and the reference to Thanet in it, was picked up by the national media, with a mention on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Cllr. Zita Wiltshire, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: "It's wonderful to see the council being recognised in this way by the Audit Commission. These comments are excellent reading for our hard-working housing and planning teams, who have been responsible for the planning policy in Cliftonville West and bringing empty properties back into use across the district. This report highlights that the council is taking exactly the right approach to improving housing in Thanet through a range of innovative initiatives."