Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet Member Housing

The Cabinet Member Housing introduced the report and explained that the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 would be implemented in April 2018 and would significantly increase the statutory duties on councils to prevent and relieve homelessness of all families and single people, regardless of priority need, who were eligible for assistance and threatened with homelessness.

There was an emphasis on intervention and acting quickly to provide advice and to take action to prevent homelessness, rather than only intervening at crisis point. The duties to help prevent homelessness of non-priority applicants had also been extended. The Cabinet Member Finance also informed that on 16 October it was announced that the council would receive New Burdens funding over a 3 year period to assist with the costs of implementation and in addition the council had received flexible homelessness support grant funding, over a two year period, which could be used to support its work to prevent homelessness.

The Cabinet Member said there was a problem in that demand for the service was currently unknown, particularly in view of the introduction of universal credit but it was proposed that these funding streams were used to support the delivery of the new statutory requirements detailed within the Act, and to provide the Housing Options Service with the resources to provide a wider range of homelessness prevention options for households presenting as homeless, as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report. Included within this was funding for two fixed term posts.

The Cabinet Member took the opportunity to thank CBH for its work. He was confident that flexibility had been built in to address the demands and pressures on the service  in the New Year.

Members welcomed the initiatives outlined in the report which were particularly important given the current climate. Particular concern was expressed regarding the impact of universal credit as the pilot scheme had caused real hardship with an increased number of evictions and homelessness. They believed the service would be put to the test very quickly as universal credit was introduced and monitoring the situation was vital.

Other Members remarked that there had been a significant increase in families using the food bank in their wards.

Finally, the Cabinet Member Housing confirmed that flexibility was essential and CBH was working closely with tenants and would be providing regular monitoring updates to the council of the situation. needs to be there.

The Leader added that the proposal was the best way to deploy resources at the current time and he was confident that everything was in place. Adjustments would be made as required.

RESOLVED THAT

1.            The transfer of the New Burdens Funding and Flexible Homelessness Support Grant to Cheltenham Borough Homes’ Housing Options Service be approved.

2.            It be noted that the indicative expenditures detailed within Appendix 2 of the report may need to be flexible, depending upon demands of the service. The Lead Commissioner – Housing Services & Waste, in consultation with the Cabinet Member Housing be authorised to make any changes to these spending plans.

3.            It be noted that should it be required for back-office Housing Options staff to be relocated elsewhere, under more flexible working arrangements, as a result of the recruitment of two new posts, then any new location arrangements will be agreed in writing between CBH and the Lead Commissioner – Housing Services & Waste, in consultation with Cabinet Member Housing.