Issue - items at meetings - Homelessness Grant - Performance of 2011/12 Schemes and Proposed Funding of Schemes for 2012/13

Issue - meetings

Homelessness Grant - Performance of 2011/12 Schemes and Proposed Funding of Schemes for 2012/13

 

 

Meeting: 27/02/2012 - Overview and Scrutiny Board (Item 93)

93 Homelessness Grant 2012/13 pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Core Strategy, Regulatory Services and Strategic Housing and the Strategic Housing Officer who reminded Members that the Board had asked to receive this report following its inclusion on the Forward Plan and subsequent submission to Cabinet on 1st February 2012.

 

The Strategic Housing Officer provided Members with details of the funding received by the Council for 2011/12 and 2012/13, together with progress on schemes in place for 2011/12 and the methodology used in allocating  the funds for 2012/13 and which had been recommended by the Homelessness Strategy Steering Group.

 

Members discussed the following in detail:

 

·        The Economic Recovery Fund and how residents were made aware of the availability of the funds.  This was only available in exceptional circumstances following advice and referral from Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) specialist mortgage rescue adviser.

·        The role of the Homelessness Strategy Steering Group – it had been in existence for 7/8 years, its members included CAB, Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT), Bromsgrove Youth Forum Newstarts Furniture Project, Fry Housing, Our Ways, St Basils and Registered Providers and met on a quarterly basis.

·        The development of services year on year – Members raised concerns that scheme would become dependant on the funds provided by the Council.

·        The Newstart Furniture Project and the services that were provided by this project.

·        The New Homes Bonus (calculated on the number of new homes created over a period of time) – which had already been included in the main budget.  It was confirmed that this Bonus had not been ring fenced.

·        The National Home Swap Scheme – accessed by BDHT through Homeswapper.

·        The Discretionary Housing Benefit scheme and work carried out in conjunction with the Housing Benefit Department.

·        Lashbrook House – Members were provided with background information on this facility.

·        The Night Assessment Centre – who this was available to and how this was accessed.

·        The use of sheltered accommodation for those under the usual required age criteria and the flexibility of that age criteria.

 

Members raised concerns that a proportion of the Grant had been surrendered to the Council’s balances.  Officers informed the Board that this had been agreed by Members and the Grant for 2011/12 to which this referred was not ring fenced.  For 2012/13 the full Grant would be made available, although not ring fenced,.

 

The Board discussed the new Government Welfare Reforms and in particular raised concerns in respect of the “bedroom” tax.  Officers informed Members that an impact assessment had been carried out to ascertain the affect of the changes, this included a “modelling” exercise on the supply of accommodation, the number of people affected by the private sector changes and other issues and it was likely that it would take 4/5 years for the changes to take full effect.  It was confirmed that there were approximately 290 people who would be affected by the changes at BDHT.   It was confirmed that the legislation would come into force with effect from April 2013.  Officers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93