Decision details

To approve the review document and recommendations contained therein for permanent funding of additional staff taken on to meet the additional demands of the Act.

Matter for Decision

The reported referred to The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 (‘the Act’), came into effect on 3 April 2018.  The Act placed major new duties on authorities to relieve or prevent homelessness. 

Decision of the Executive Councillor for Housing

       i.          Noted the contents of the report and endorsed the approach the Council had taken as described in the appendix of the officer’s report in relation to applying its new powers.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Head of Housing which outlined The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and the key aspects of the new act.

In response to questions and comments from the Committee the Head of Housing said the following:

       i.          With regards to the hidden homeless, intelligence was gained from housing forms submitted to the Council. Applicants would indicate if they were sofa surfing, moving between properties, or if they had a bedroom of their own in the accommodation where they were staying.

     ii.          Officers would follow up with those individuals if there was sufficient concern of an imminent threat of homelessness.

   iii.          There had been 212 referrals in six months under the duty to refer from statutory bodies (such as the prison services) to the Council.

   iv.          Under the homelessness partnership the council shared good practice with other local authorities.

    v.           

The Executive Councillor for Housing thanked the Head of Housing and his team for the work that they had undertaken dealing with the increase in caseloads. He also welcomed the Government’s decision to scrap the section 21 notice, the ‘no fault’ eviction issued to tenants from their landlords.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.