Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Housing

RESOLVED THAT

1.    The Advice and Inclusion Contract be retendered for a term of 3 years from April 1^st 2017,  with the option of extending the term for a further 2 years, subject to satisfactory performance and available finance.

2.    The Managing Director of Place and Economic Development be authorised, in consultation with Cabinet Member Housing, to award the contract to the successful tenderer, following evaluation of bids.

3.    the Managing Director of Place and Economic Development be authorised, in consultation with Cabinet Member Housing, to extend the contract for a further 2 years following the end of the first 3 years of the service contract, subject to satisfactory performance and available finance.

The Cabinet Member Housing introduced the report and explained that the council’s Advice and Inclusion Contract with County Community Projects (CCP) expired on 31 March 2017. This therefore provided the council with an opportunity to review the outcomes and service specification to ensure that it was best placed to meet the needs of Cheltenham residents most affected by the ongoing changes being brought about by the welfare reforms, particularly with regard to the implementation of Universal Credit.

The new Advice and Inclusion Contract would seek to mitigate against the risk of households falling into debt, thereby preventing homelessness. The Cabinet Member emphasised that the contract was not a statutory requirement but it was intrinsically important to the council’s housing and homelessness strategy overall. The key changes being proposed reflected the introduction of Universal Credit, as this will present significant changes to the way those on benefits would be able to claim their benefit and manage their financial affairs. The key outcomes identified included maximising incomes. The welfare reform timetable was attached as appendix 2 to the report and it was worth noting that there were still 2-3 years of changes. The Cabinet Member strongly believed that residents significantly benefited from the advice provided.

In concluding the Leader believed that the impact of the contract was considerable and reiterated the fact that this was a discretionary service that the council was providing in difficult financial circumstances.

RESOLVED THAT

1.    The Advice and Inclusion Contract be retendered for a term of 3 years from April 1^st 2017,  with the option of extending the term for a further 2 years, subject to satisfactory performance and available finance.

2.    The Managing Director of Place and Economic Development be authorised, in consultation with Cabinet Member Housing, to award the contract to the successful tenderer, following evaluation of bids.

3.    the Managing Director of Place and Economic Development be authorised, in consultation with Cabinet Member Housing, to extend the contract for a further 2 years following the end of the first 3 years of the service contract, subject to satisfactory performance and available finance.