Issue - meetings

To consider and decide on the recommendations as set out in the associated report.

RESOLVED – That a six-week period of consultation be arranged for the draft Strategy be approved and the results reported to Cabinet on 17 March 2022 for adoption.

REASON FOR DECISION: The consultation would ensure compliance with the requirements of the Homelessness Act 2002 and the Government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy by engaging with partners to help inform the final version of the Strategy.

Sue Oliver, Private Sector Housing Manager introduced the report as set out in the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

-       The Housing Advisory Panel (HAP) and Cabinet Advisory Board (CAB) fully supported the document.

-       The Housing Team were congratulated for reducing rough sleeping from 20 in 2017 to 0 in 2020.  An achievement it was hoped would be repeated in 2021.

-       It was hoped the Council would end rough sleeping in the Borough in the next 5 years.

-       One property had been identified for an Afghan refugee family and it was understood that a family had now been nominated. 

-       The Council were continuing to work with private sector landlords to identify more suitable properties.  The possibility of using empty (suitable) properties would also be explored.

-       It might be possible to extend the consultation period to allow sufficient time for people to respond, especially if the consultation period covered a public holiday (e.g. Christmas). 

-       It was difficult to predict whether the number of rough sleepers would increase over the coming months but the Council’s outreach support would continue to ensure help was available.  The Council also now had the properties in Crescent Road (6 units of accommodation).

-       Following the Budget the Council would now have to wait to see what allocation it would be given as part of the Rough Sleepers Initiative. 

-       The longer term future of the remaining properties in Crescent Road was something the Council would be looking at but it any work would be subject to the availability of Government funding.

-       The inclusion of carbon reduction measures in the Strategy was very welcome.

RESOLVED – That a six-week period of consultation be arranged for the draft Strategy be approved and the results reported to Cabinet on 17 March 2022 for adoption.

REASON FOR DECISION: The consultation would ensure compliance with the requirements of the Homelessness Act 2002 and the Government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy by engaging with partners to help inform the final version of the Strategy.

To consider and provide a recommendation to Cabinet on the proposals set out in the attached report.

Sue Oliver, Private Sector Housing Manager introduced the report set out in the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

-       The Housing Team were congratulated on this ambitious and comprehensive report.

-       The Housing Advisory Panel (HAP) had reviewed the report and the current version reflected all the questions and issues raised by them.

-       The continued support from S106 money to provide social accommodation was very welcome.

-       The scheme to install gas central heating into homes had been running for a number of years.  For those in particular need, the elderly and those in fuel poverty, this scheme was free.  Other forms of heating were currently too expensive for this purpose.

-       However, the Council had submitted a bid for funding as part of the recent Government scheme, ‘Sustainable Warmth’.  If successful, it would enable the Council to consider other forms of heating e.g. air source and ground source heat pumps. 

-       The Crescent Road flats had air source heat pumps.

-       The Russell Hotel were congratulated on their work in helping the Council house homeless people.

-       Currently only one property had been identified for use to accommodate an Afghan Refugee family.  The Council would be looking to see what more could be done to identify suitable housing options and were now proactively contacting letting agents direct and looking the possibility of using empty properties.

-       One of the main reasons only one property had been secured was because larger properties were invariably needed and these were more difficult to source. 

-       It was an aspiration that the Council would be able to offer homes for 10 Afghan families.  However, it was noted that the Borough had yet to be allocated any families.

-       More work was needed on how best the Council could work with private landlords.  At present the Council was doing work with some private sector landlords, particularly those who were able to take on tenants in more challenging situations.  It was agreed that more information on this would be sent after the meeting.

-       The Strategy included links to the Pre-Submission Local Plan with the intention that the 2 documents could sit alongside each other. 

-       Waiting times for housing was a general average figure which was largely due to availability. 

-       It was agreed the report should include details about energy efficiency in respect of affordability to help ensure there were minimal instances of fuel poverty.

-       It was agreed the Strategy should include a glossary of terms.

RESOLVED – That the recommendations set out in the report be supported.