Issue - meetings

Report of Head of Regeneration and Housing

Purpose of report

To update the Executive on the progress of the Homelessness Prevention Action Plan 2013-2015.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To approve the update of the Homelessness Prevention Action Plan which takes account of learning from the current year’s plan, and reflecting Cherwell District Council’s application for the Gold standard accreditation for homelessness services.

1.2         To approve for the 2015/16 financial year, the ring-fencing of the homeless grant monies provided as part of the Council’s general financial settlement awarded by central Government.

Resolved

(1)          That the update of the Homelessness Prevention Action Plan which takes account of learning from the current year’s plan, and reflects Cherwell District Council’s application for the Gold standard accreditation for homelessness services be approved.

(2)          That for the 2015/16 financial year the ring-fencing of the homeless grant monies provided as part of the Council’s general financial settlement awarded by central Government be approved.

The Head of Regeneration and Housing submitted a report which updated the Executive on the progress of the Homelessness Prevention Action Plan 2013-2015.

Executive commended the Housing Team, and in particular the Homeless Prevention Team, for their hard work in homelessness prevention and on-going work towards achieving the Governments Gold Standard for homelessness services.

Resolved

(1)          That the update of the Homelessness Prevention Action Plan which takes account of learning from the current year’s plan, and reflects Cherwell District Council’s application for the Gold standard accreditation for homelessness services be approved.

(2)          That for the 2015/16 financial year the ring-fencing of the homeless grant monies provided as part of the Council’s general financial settlement awarded by central Government be approved.

Reasons

It is through adopting this Action Plan that the Council makes clear its commitment to the homelessness prevention agenda to both central Government and its partners across the statutory and voluntary sectors

The Homelessness Prevention Action Plan is a result of a review of the previous action plan as directed by Chapter 5 of the Housing Strategy, which requires a review of partnerships.

The adoption of the Homelessness Prevention Action Plan is an important step on the Council’s journey to achieving Gold Standard for Homelessness Services, and all that lies behind that award.

Alternative Options

Option 1: Not to endorse the Homeless Action Plan 2015/16 which also requests continued ring-fencing of the DCLG element of council grant for homelessness prevention. This has been rejected as it will lead to an increase in statutory duties to homeless and an increase in spending on provision of expensive temporary accommodation