Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing

Purpose of report

To seek approval for a new Temporary Accommodation Policy.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1     To approve the new Temporary Accommodation Policy.

Resolved

(1)            That the new Temporary Accommodation Policy be approved.

The Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing submitted a report to seek approval for a new Temporary Accommodation Policy.

In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Housing explained that the Council had a duty to provide temporary accommodation for certain households who approach the Council for assistance and who are in housing crisis. The policy outlined the Council’s approach, including how placements were made and managed providing clarity for those requiring assistance and a framework for officers in deploying resources.

Resolved

(1)          That the new Temporary Accommodation Policy be approved.

Reasons

It is important that the Council has up to date policies and procedures for its statutory and key service areas and it is important that they are legislatively and operationally sound.

Alternative options

Option 1: Not to bring forward a Temporary Accommodation Policy. There is no statutory need to have a Temporary Accommodation Policy, so this is an option that could be considered. It is however considered good practice for Council’s to have a Temporary Accommodation Policy in the Council’s conversations with its homelessness advisors from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and also is an approach that is and has been replicated by other Council’s across the Country. This is therefore rejected.