Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Finance and Community Development

RESOLVED that

The Director of Built Environment be authorised to re-tender this contract, as the ‘Advice & Inclusion Contract’, for a term of 3 years from April 1^st 2012, plus a further 2 years, subject to satisfactory performance and available finance.

The Cabinet Member Finance and Community explained that the name of the Single Advice Contract had changed to the Advice and Inclusion contract.

He explained that the current contract expired on 31^st March 2012. The intention was to let the contract for 3 years plus a further 2 years subject to satisfactory performance.

Changes to the benefits system would mean an increase in the need for housing advice for private sector tenants particularly with the changes recently announced in terms of housing benefit for single people under 35 which would compel them to share accommodation, and the reduction in the amount of local housing allowance available from 50% of local market rents to 30%.

The Cabinet Member reported that more focus had been given to the contract and the amount available had been reduced from £155k to £130k.

The key outcomes were to prevent homelessness, to reduce debt and prevent future debt arising, to ensure the rights of people are protected in respect of rights to benefits and to support the most vulnerable.

The Cabinet Member Housing and Safety informed Cabinet that this approach had been discussed by the Housing Review group. It had welcomed the focus on new priorities and the streamlining of the contract.

RESOLVED that

The Director of Built Environment be authorised to re-tender this contract, as the ‘Advice & Inclusion Contract’, for a term of 3 years from April 1^st 2012, plus a further 2 years, subject to satisfactory performance and available finance.