Issue - meetings

Councillor Taylor, as Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing, presented the report and in doing so highlighted that some interesting comments had been received when this item had been pre-scrutinised at the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 14th January 2019.

Councillor Taylor drew Members’ attention to the following items:

·         Homelessness Grant Allocation, as detailed on pages 17 and 18 of the main agenda report; and

·         Flexible Homelessness Support Grant, as detailed on pages 18 and 19 of the main agenda report.

An element of the housing agency contract awarded to Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT) included the management of Temporary Accommodation for Homelessness Households.  The Flexible Homelessness Support Grant had been allocated for the purpose of managing temporary accommodation and supporting those who were homeless or threatened with homelessness.

Members commented that they completely agreed that the support of all partner agencies was extremely important in helping the Council meet its statutory duties to those threatened with homelessness and homeless applicants.

Councillor May asked for sincere thanks to be noted as an acknowledgment to those partner agencies.

Councillor Sherrey commented that there needed to be an understanding of the definition of rough sleeping and homelessness.

“The distinction can be made between rough sleeping and homelessness in that it is possible to be homeless, but not sleeping rough.  For example, someone can be homeless if they are having to stay in temporary accommodation, however are not rough sleeping given they do have accommodation and a roof over their head at night”.

The Deputy Chief Executive informed Members that there was a bi-monthly corporate report, to be considered by Cabinet in the near future, and that she was happy to include a detailed definition of homelessness and rough sleeping.  The focus of the report would be to cover delivery to the Council’s Strategic Purpose “Help me to find somewhere to live in my locality”.

RESOLVED:

a)    that Cabinet notes the 2019/2020 grant funding implications to be included as part of the Medium Term Financial Plan report to Council in February 2019, and that subject to Council approval of the budget;

b)    that the initiatives, as detailed in the report at bullet points 3.8, 3.10 and 3.11 as recommended by the Strategic Housing Manager, be approved to receive allocation of funding 2019/2020; and

c)    that delegated authority be granted to the Head of Community Services following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing to use any unallocated Grant during the year or make further adjustments as necessary to ensure full utilisation of the Grants for 2019/2020 in support of existing or new schemes.