Issue - meetings

The Board received a presentation from the Strategic Housing Enabling Officer and the Head of Housing Needs (Bromsgrove District Housing Trust) on the impact of Welfare and Housing Benefit Reform on residents in Bromsgrove. This updated Members on the impact to the Council of the benefit changes that had been made since the Board considered an earlier report at its meeting held on 23rd April 2012.

The presentation explained that:

• The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) had been reduced to the 30% lower quartile.
• There were currently twenty-eight cases of households in Bromsgrove affected by the benefit cap.
• Social housing tenants in under-occupied properties would no longer receive LHA as part of the new changes.
• Providing a homelessness service was a statutory function of the Council.

Officers therefore anticipated a significant increase in demand for the Housing Options Service and an increase in homeless acceptances. Members were informed that Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT) had already identified and contacted tenants who were under occupying and discussed possible options.  A Multi-agency Welfare Reform Steering Group had been established and its priorities included the development of a communications strategy to raise awareness of welfare reform. Officers were encouraging those potentially affected by the changes to discuss with the Council the available options in order to prevent them from becoming homeless.

The Board discussed the following areas in detail and Officers responded to questions:

• The implications for residents over the age of 65 on housing benefits.
• The potential financial impact of a significant rise of homelessness on the Council and specific measures being undertaken by the Council to help prevent residents from becoming homeless.
• The options available to tenants in under-occupied properties. The Board was informed that Cabinet would consider a new policy for discharging social landlord tenants in under-occupied properties to the private rented sector.
• How the Council had been working with the private rented sector about the likely increase of local residents on housing benefits and who would possibly need to move into the private rented sector.
• The impact of moving residents to other local authority areas.
• The introduction of a credit union.
• The advice and support available for residents whose benefit levels would decrease under the new reforms.
• The impact of changes to the planning regulations to the Council’s ability to tackle homelessness.

On behalf of the Board, the Chairman thanked the Officers for the detailed presentation.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.