Issue - meetings

Members noted the Executive Councillor for Housing had approved an increase in the Temporary Housing staffing establishment, allowing the appointment of one full time equivalent additional Assistant Housing Officer. This approval was granted on the basis that this would have a neutral financial impact on the Housing Revenue Account, with the costs met by a combination of existing funding approved as part of the 2013/14 budget process for additional emergency accommodation provision and the increased service charge income that an increase in Temporary Housing units will generate.

This decision was needed to enable the Temporary Housing Service to increase the provision of Temporary and Emergency Accommodation to a target level of 95 units from a position of 63 units at the start of 2013 as quickly as possible.

The Executive Councillor for Housing acknowledged comments that the preferred option would have been for the item to be presented to the Committee for consideration. But there were occasions when this was not possible due to the time frame of the response required.