Agenda item

That the Homelessness Strategy 2016-2020 be adopted.

Decision

That the Homelessness Strategy 2016-2020 be adopted.

Reason for Decision

The purpose of this report is to provide the committee with an overview of the proposed Homelessness strategy 2016 - 2020. This includes the approach taken to develop the strategy and an update on national and local trends, key changes in legislation and the council’s commitment to achieving a Gold Standard homelessness service.

Implications

Proposals have been made in preparation for the 2017/18 budget, to support recommendations made to further improve the service delivered to customers. These proposals will be subject to the Chief Officer Group assessment and considered through the usual annual budget review process.

Value for money

It is important that we deliver value for money for local people accessing our homelessness support services. Increased demand requires us to explore new ways to improve efficiency within our housing advice and options service so we can target resources to improve service quality, enhance effectiveness and deliver positive outcomes for our clients. We are also committed to ‘demonstrating the cost effectiveness of preventing homelessness’. By investing in preventative approaches we can support people to stay in existing accommodation.

Risk Management

Risk Assessment completed.

The intention of this report is to comply with legislation and therefore avoid the risk of non-compliance.   Embedding these new ways of working will now need the full commitment of all officers. A procedure and policy review is underway and involves all frontline officers.  Improved communications programme is in place and has been since October 2015

Community Impact Assessment

Community Impact Assessment carried out

Corporate Objectives

Preventing and tackling homelessness contributes to the following corporate objectives;

·        A clean, safe and enjoyable environment

·        Building strong and vibrant communities

Providing good quality affordable homes, in particular for those most in needing

Monitoring Officer/S.151 Officer Comments

Monitoring Officer: 

No comments to add to the report.

Deputy S.151 Officer

The proposed strategy will be delivered through approved budgets. Any direct financial implications of any changes will need to be submitted for financial approval through the normal annual budget setting process.

Advice

Councillor Griffiths explained that they had updated the current strategy, which had been to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee (OSC) who were very impressed with it and commended the work Officers had done.

N Brathwaite noted that the OSC had extensive discussions around the challenges and the impact of mental health and homelessness.  They had requested 6 monthly update reports in order to monitor progress. The OSC also suggested having a nominated representative on the homelessness forum.

She reassured members that all staff attended mental health awareness training.

Councillor Griffiths said it was fantastic that the OSC wanted to be involved and asked if Cabinet could help with that.

N Brathwaite said that this can be done internally at the forum meetings as these were open to anyone who had an interest.

Councillor Marshall referred to paragraph 4.4 of the report and asked what the connection was between homelessness and assured shorthold tenancies.

N Brathwaite explained that property prices were high as were the monthly rental costs. Private rented properties are becoming less affordable due to landlords letting their properties on the open market, at a significantly higher value than set at the Local Housing Allowance  (LHA) level, therefore on occasion, making it unaffordable for families. Some families have a tenancy come to an end however their deposit can be held for up to 3 months. This can cause issues in then raising a deposit for their next property. This is something the council need to help manage.

Councillor Marshall asked if DBC offered any high value financial incentives as other local authorities did.

N Brathwaite said that the council had a Service Level Agreement with Hightown Praetorian. The landlord forum had been consulted in order to understand their needs for the community and work needed to create an incentive scheme.

Councillor Marshall referred to paragraph 5.5 of the strategy and asked what the enhanced housing toolkit was.

N Brathwaite explained that it can be accessed via the council’s website and the ‘Moving with Dacorum’ section. This then gives people access to questionnaires and toolkits to use.

Councillor Tindall highlighted an issue with a number of tenancies coming to an end with Hightown Praetorian and the families potentially being asked to move on. He asked if the council had any role in helping those families appeal the decision before they are made homeless.

N Brathwaite confirmed that the council had an early notification process and were more than happy to help liaise with the Hightown Praetorian.

Councillor Harden asked if the council achieved Gold standard once the strategy had been implemented and how long did the standard last.

N Brathwaite said that the council had currently achieved bronze standard. The National Practitioner Service was working with the council in order to work on the criteria to achieve Gold standard. The standard would continue to remain as long as the relevant criteria were met.

The Bronze standard gave the council free resources and toolkits, training for staff and organisations such as Dens and Druglink. It also allowed the council to sit on the assessment board for other council’s looking to achieve bronze standard.

Councillor Williams asked if there were placements made from other council’s would they have a higher allowance if they were placed from London Boroughs.

N Brathwaite confirmed this would be the case; the council would need to monitor this in the future. They needed to ensure that tenants are placed in accommodation that’s affordable to avoid reoccurrence of homelessness.

E Brooks noted that although the teams were doing well and doing a great job, the situation was only going to get worse.

The work was relentless with the amount of people coming to the council for help. He said that the Housing Minister had announced that councils would receive more resources to help support those in temporary accommodation, but he was concerned as to how the team could continue the high level of service with little resources.

Councillor Griffiths reminded members that these resources were from the General Fund account and not from the Housing Revenue account.

Councillor Williams noted that sustaining tenancies could be a challenge when ensuring all needs are continually met.

E Brooks agreed and said the needs of individuals was growing.

N Brathwaite added that the council was also affected when external organisations cut services or resources. For example the previously mentioned Hightown Praetorian tenancies coming to an end, which meant the families involved, would become the council’s responsibility.

Voting

None