Agenda item

A report of the Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing to present the proposed Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Reduction Strategy 2019-2022 and Action Plan setting out the approach for tackling homelessness and rough sleeping in the Borough will be considered for pre-decision scrutiny in order to make recommendations as appropriate to the Cabinet.

A Cabinet report of the Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing was considered to present the proposed Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Reduction Strategy 2019-2022 and Action Plan for pre-decision scrutiny (item 7a on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing attended the meeting to assist with the consideration of this item. It was noted that there had been a typographical error in the title of the report, which should read ‘Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Reduction Strategy 2019-2022.’ In addition, it was stated that there were ten performance indicators rather than nine as indicated in the text in the performance section of the Strategy.

The Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing gave the following responses to questions raised;

      i.        There was an out of hours number to prevent rough sleeping, details of the out of hours service procedure were on the Council’s website.  An on-call Housing Officer was available via telephone to provide advice and where applicable enable access to emergency accommodation where possible.

    ii.        The Council had consulted on the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Reduction Strategy through the Homeless Strategy Steering Group and the Registered Providers Benefit and Liaison Group. There had not been significant updates within the relevant aspects of the strategy and so there had not been any resident involvement at this stage. Customer surveys would be utilised to develop an understanding of resident satisfaction.

   iii.        The recommendations in the report included references to financial implications although specific budget details were not included within the report.It was felt that without specific financial figures it was difficult to comprehensively scrutinise the strategy. The Commission felt that reports selected for pre-decision scrutiny should include additional financial information when any financial implications were referred to in the recommendations.

   iv.        Private Sector Landlords had to follow a legal procedure and provide evidence and satisfactory reasoning for serving a Notice to evict tenants, take court action and obtain a bailiff’s warrant were applicable.

    v.        Nationally, the most common reasons for homelessness included family breakdown and ending Assured Shorthold Tenancies in the private rented sector. Legislation required the Council to assist residents in obtaining six-month tenancies. However, the Council aimed to assist residents in obtaining 12-month tenancies when trying to prevent and relieve homelessness.

RESOLVED

1.    that the Cabinet be informed that the Commission supports the recommendations as set out in the report of the Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing.

2.    that the information on the number of children in homeless households be raised as a concern with Cabinet.

3.    that reports selected for pre-decision scrutiny should include additional financial information, such as relevant sections of the Medium-Term Financial Strategy, when any financial implications were referred to in the recommendations.

Reasons

1.    The Commission, having carefully considered the report felt the Cabinet should approve the recommendations set out.

2.    To ensure transparency in the number of children in homeless households in the Borough.

3.    To enable the Commission to effectively scrutinise reports selected for pre-decision scrutiny.