Agenda item

Purpose:  To adopt a strategy that sets out how the Council intends to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping.

Resolved that the Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy be adopted.

This decision is not subject to call in as:

·      a delay in implementing the decision would cause the Council serious financial implications.

therefore it will be implemented immediately.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 3) concerning the Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy.

Councillor Hilary Cole introduced the report by explaining that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) required all councils to have a strategy adopted by 31 December 2019.

She was pleased to propose West Berkshire’s Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy for adoption. Councillor Cole gave thanks to partner agencies for their input. This was a good example of partnership working.

Councillor Cole highlighted some key achievements in respect of delivering services for households who were homeless or threatened with homelessness:

·         Assisted 68% of homelessness prevention duty cases in 2018/19 into long term accommodation.

·         Utilised Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) to support 33% of households to prevent homelessness.

·         Assisted 25% of homelessness relief duty cases in 2018/19 into social housing.

Councillor Rick Jones seconded the proposed adoption of the Strategy. He commended the exemplary work of officers and Members to reduce homelessness in West Berkshire, most particularly over the past year. He also praised the work of the Homelessness Strategy Group in helping to make improvements.

Councillor Alan Macro was disappointed that prevention was not highlighted as a priority in its own right in the Strategy, as prevention work saved money in other areas. In response, Councillor Cole explained that the Housing Team provided an excellent service to people who were homeless or at risk of being homeless. The team had been restructured and a new manager was in place. Prevention work was key and formed the main thrust of the Council’s work. Prevention was also a requirement of the Homelessness Reduction Act.

Councillor Macro next questioned what was being done to lobby Government for a change in policy. The Strategy highlighted concerns over areas including low Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates and Government legislation on benefit incomes. Councillor Cole confirmed that the Council lobbied Government on a regular basis and held discussions with Members of Parliament. She added that the Council had a good working relationship with the MHCLG and were able to communicate points of concern. The Council had been successful in securing Government funding.

Councillor Macro followed this question by asking if lobbying would be resumed once the new Government had reshuffled. Councillor Cole confirmed that lobbying would continue.

Councillor Macro then queried plans to purchase temporary accommodation. Councillor Cole explained that the purchase of three further temporary units was in process. She added that the Council had been successful in placing people into temporary accommodation rather than bed and breakfast. She gave thanks to officers for this work.

Councillor Macro next highlighted the importance of bringing empty homes back into use to alleviate homelessness. It was therefore disappointing that there was no longer an Empty Homes Officer. Councillor Cole advised that the potential to reinstate the post was being looked into. She also made the point that properties could be empty for a number of reasons. Councillor Cole also added that as of April 2019, a higher rate of Council Tax (3 times higher) was set for empty homes.

Finally, Councillor Macro referred to the number of units available at Thomas Askew House. The report stated 26 units, but he was aware this was only 10. He was therefore concerned that other figures in the Strategy could be incorrect. Councillor Cole agreed to provide a written response to confirm the number of units at Thomas Askew House. She was however confident on the accuracy of the Strategy beyond this point of clarification.

Councillor Steve Masters was concerned that there was a gap between the required social/affordable housing stock and the reality. Opportunities should not be missed for affordable homes. Councillor Cole disputed that there was a gap and stated that affordable homes were being provided. She acknowledged that the Market Street development had a lower affordable housing provision but this was an exemption. This particular development would provide many other benefits including a bus station, multi-storey car park and a new approach to the train station. The housing units would all be available for rent and this would be more affordable than mortgages.

Councillor Cole added that work was ongoing to reinstate the Landlord Forum.

Councillor Owen Jeffery referred to paragraph 5.2 of the report, which stated that new legislation should be allowed to bed in before reviewing the Council’s strategic approach to homelessness and rough sleeping. He questioned this approach and whether the Council should instead be responding more immediately to new legislation.

Councillor Cole advised that 12 individuals needed to be recruited to help implement the legislative requirements of the Homelessness Reduction Act, seven of whom had already been recruited. The Council had moved as swiftly as possible in this area and had worked unrelentingly to implement the legislative requirements.

Councillor Jeffery also referred to paragraph 5.6 (5) to point out that the percentages needed correcting.

Councillor Masters reiterated a question he asked at a previous Executive on the cost of employing Ridgeway Associates to undertake the consultation process. Councillor Cole did not have the sum to hand and would therefore provide it in writing. However, irrespective of this cost, the Council needed to adopt the Strategy by the end of the calendar year. There was not the available resource to conduct this internally and so consultants were employed. Doing so was not out of keeping with other areas of the Council’s activity.

Councillor Carolyne Culver returned to the point already made that LHA rates were low. However, she queried how this compared with other local authorities. Councillor Cole responded by explaining that the LHA rate in West Berkshire was low compared to surrounding local authorities.

Councillor Culver also queried the amount by which the Council was subsidising private sector rents for eligible residents. Councillor Cole advised that this was covered within discretionary housing payments and was not a standalone figure.

RESOLVED that the Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy be adopted, subject to a double check of the points raised at this meeting on percentages and numbers of housing units.

Other options considered: The option not to adopt a Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy was dismissed as the adoption of a strategy before 31 December 2019 is a requirement of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.