Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils
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Issue - meetings

Meeting: 24/07/2017 - Babergh Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 19)

19 SCOPING FOR HOMELESSNESS / BED AND BREAKFAST ACCOMMODATION REVIEW pdf icon PDF 154 KB

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee Members to use the attached Scoping Template to guide this process.

Minutes:

Members had before them the following documents:-

 

·      copies of the slide presentation ‘Preparing for the Homelessness Reduction Act’ by Andy Gale (circulated prior to the day of the meeting)

·      Homelessness Statistics 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17 (circulated at the meeting)

·      Review Scoping Document – Homelessness and Bed and Breakfast placements (circulated with the agenda for the meeting)

 

Jan Osborne, Cabinet Member for Housing, was present at the meeting and referred to the work being done by Andy Gale in the areas of prevention and the focus on delivery, together with creative and proactive solutions.

 

Heather Sparrow, Corporate Manager – Homelessness Prevention and Older Persons, gave the background to the proposed Review, and outlined some key points, including the following:-

 

Obligation to respond to applications / timescales for processing

Eligibility / Priority need – legal/medical etc /Intentional homelessness / Local connection

Discretionary – advice and assistance, with requirement to provide interim accommodation in some circumstances

The impact of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 – to be implemented from 3 April 2018

Code of Guidance to be the subject of consultation from September

Workload is anticipated to double to provide personal housing plans, legal notices and letters – 4.5 FTEs to be appointed across the 2 Districts - some costs might be covered from Government funding of £61m

Challenges to new legislation via the courts – impact of Case Law

Effect of Benefits Cap / Universal Credit (from Oct 2017) / potential increase in length of stay in B&B accommodation  

 

The Corporate Manager also referred to issues around rough sleeping and domestic abuse, and to the Homelessness Statistics for the 3 years to the end of March 2017

 

Members then discussed


Meeting: 20/07/2017 - Mid Suffolk Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 24)

24 Scoping for Homeless/ Bed and Breakfast Accommodation Review pdf icon PDF 236 KB

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee Members to use the attached Scoping Template to guide this process.