Issue - meetings

The Chairman reminded Members that following receipt of a report at the meeting held on 27th February 2012 an update on the Homelessness Grant scheme position had been requested.

The Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Resources informed the Board that the Council had a significant number of schemes in place in order to mitigate homelessness in the district as much as possible, although in view of the current economic climate it was unlikely that this situation would improve in the foreseeable future.  A significant part of the work was around prevention where ever possible and included supporting the voluntary sector.

Members discussed the following areas in more detail:

• The welfare reforms which would come into place in April and the transfer of emergency care loans from the Department of Work and Pensions to the Council.
• The ring fencing of funds towards grants.
• The cost to the Council to provide emergency accommodation to an individual.
• Funding from earmarked reserves towards the “bedroom” tax and how the Council would be dealing with this issue.  Officers to provide a comparison of estimated costs for 2013/14 and 2014/15.

Members were concerned that access to the Night Assessment Centre, for those people sleeping rough, appeared to be only during the winter months (November to March) as it could also be very cold during other times of the year.  Officers agreed to seek clarification on this and provide Members with a further update, together with details of the location and contact details of the Night Assessment Centre.