Agenda item

Presentation of the Assistant Director of Wellbeing and Housing Services.

Purpose of the Presentation

To provide the Committee with a presentation on the progress on the Temporary Accommodation Policy. In addition, the presentation will cover the wider delivery of homelessness, housing advice and strategic housing services.  

Resolved

(1)          That the Temporary Accommodation Policy Presentation be noted.

The Committee considered a presentation from the Assistant Director of Wellbeing and Housing Services that detailed the councils Temporary Accommodation Policy.

Members were advised that the policy outlined the provision of temporary accommodation (TA) as part of the councils’ statutory duties, and that TA was used when households presented as homeless and were categorised as Priority Need., ‘Priority Need’ status was a legislative test. 

Members were advised that TA was provided either within units of residential accommodation or within hotels, and that when the council either found someone permanent accommodation or had no duties to continue housing them, the TA duty ended.

Members were also advised that demand for TA was rising rapidly, driven by affordability issues, complex needs, and crisis presentations and that the Council was shifting away from expensive, unsuitable hotel use toward owned/self-contained accommodation. there was also a strong emphasis on prevention and early intervention, increasing housing supply

In response to a question regarding the rise in more complex needs of households, as well the rise in needs due to reports of domestic violence, the Executive Director Neighbourhood Services explained that the perceived rise in complexity could be contributed to national initiatives to increase awareness of domestic violence scenarios, as well as officer training to help identify needs.

In response to a question regarding the building of suitable housing for council stock, whether officers had given thought to the creation of a housing revenue account and whether the onset of LGR had an impact on any present and future plans, the Head of Housing explained that the government had revised its thresholds for housing revenue accounts, but temporary accommodation did not contribute towards it. The council had a capital scheme in place to aid in the purchasing of properties suitable for temporary accommodation. Members were also advised that the impact of LGR on the council’s position on TA was unknown, but government incentives were in place to ensure that development of housing was at the forefront of local authorities’ agendas.

In response to a question regarding the inspection and quality control of housing that was being acquired for the use of TA, the Head of Housing explained that all properties were vetted and assessed before use, and that most properties were newly built for purpose.

In response to a question regarding the comparison in cost effectiveness of the Tenancy Sustainment Programme compared to TA and whether budgets set were adequate to sustain such programmes, the Head of Housing explained that focus was given to prevention initiatives but due to legislative restrictions, once a household presented as homeless they would have to be dealt with as such and therefore tenancy sustainment would not be possible.

In response to a follow up question regarding whether the council was doing everything it could to help prevent and mitigate homelessness within the district, the Head of Housing explained that there was always more work to be done, and that officers were tackling high caseloads, but priority was given to cases where the most work could be done to help.

In response to a question regarding the role Councillors had in helping officers with their work on housing and homelessness, the Assistant Director Housing and Wellbeing explained that signposting to services and relevant officers was the best way to support the service.

In response to a question regarding the involvement of enforcement tactics in relation to Council Tax arrears for residents that were already facing housing crises, the Assistant Director Housing and Wellbeing explained that there were  discretionary funds  available  that were subject to stringent criteria and reviewed on a case by case basis. , There was also a dedicated policy regarding revenue and benefits that detailed options available to officers and residents.

In response to a question regarding the reduction  in the use of hotels for temporary and emergency accommodation, the Head of Housing explained that the reduction was linked to many factors such as acquisition of suitable alternative accommodation and local and national demand, as well as national trends in cost of living and affordability crises that have an impact on the demand and supply of accommodation in the district.

Resolved

(1)          That the Temporary Accommodation Policy Presentation be noted.