Housing under pressureCllr Bill Randall - Chair of Housing CommitteeBrighton & Hove Council

4th June 2014

The other side of Brighton & Hove18,000 names on housing register which has gone up by 50 per cent since 2010150 rough sleepers (latest official count)

Private sector rents up by more than a third since 2010

Private rented housing about 30 per cent of city total

Council home sales accelerating (107 sold since 2012 – 79 in 2013-14)

City had 3rd highest UK rate (12 %) of house price inflation in 2013Average price £348.91

Manchester highest (21%)Average price £209,627 (Nationwide)

About 80% of homes in city beyond pocket of first time buyers40% of new homes bought by people from outside cityLocal low wage economy 20% of workers live on minimum wageFifth highest place to rent in Britainafter London, Guildford, Oxford and Winchester

An estimated 60,255 people in Brighton & Hove who have used illegal drugs. This represents 36% of all adults.

A 2010 study in identified more than 2,000 heroin and cocaine users in the city who could be identified as problem drug users – dependent on one or more drugs, or were experiencing health or social problems, or were committing crimes, related to their drug use

Drug use in the city

This year drug deaths have fallen for the third year running:

35 deaths in 2010

16 deaths in 2014

During this period the city’s drug treatment services have taken a cultural shift and are now tailoring services to drug users who have a named worker assigned to them early on as part of a care pathway.

Training for drug users’ partners to administer life-saving antidotes to opiates in the event of an overdose.”

Partnership working the key

City council works with other public services, third and voluntary sector organisations and faith groups

Return of public health to local government has made a huge difference

Independent Drugs Commission

• Reported in 2013• Most media attention focused on introduction of safe

rooms for drug users• Made many other recommendations

Costing Brighton and Hove taxpayers more than £100 million a year

100 residents end up in hospital each week as a result of excessive drinking.

Two people die each week in the city as a direct result of alcohol abuse.

Alcohol abuse in Brighton and Hove

Recent report recommended •Promotion of alcohol free late-night venues such as cafes and tea houses. •City’s bars and clubs should support other activities like go-karting, football, roller skating and cinema shows.•Greater support for local community bars rather than city centre venues •Banning inappropriate advertising and marketing such as cheap shots and happy hours•Restriction on the number of city centre premises Increased education.

Social housing responses