BDC Cabinet Member for Housing – Councillor Jan Osborne
MSDC Cabinet Member for Housing – Councillor Jill Wilshaw
Minutes:
43.1 Councillor Jan Osborne – Babergh Cabinet Member for Housing introduced the report and outlined the implications of the implementation of the Homelessness Reduction act. The increase in workload had surpassed predictions and cases had become more complex than previously. However, the Corporate Manager – Housing Solution had taken a project approach and had manged to deliver a multitude of projects and services, which were all outlined in the report. The team was dedicated to the improvement and delivery of housing solutions to the residents of the Districts.
43.2 Members said the report was excellent and that the appendices were well set out.
43.3 Questions were raised of what could be done to help the Housing Solution team cope the enormity of managing the Homelessness Reduction Act.
43.4 The Corporate Manager – Housing Solutions said that an increase in capacity had just been allocated to the team but that further capacity was required to enable duty officers to concentrate on cases. However, it was difficult to predict what the Government would do once they had conducted their twelve months review. Recruitment was conducted with this in mind. Monthly, quarterly and six-months reviews were conducted to monitor staff and resource capacity.
43.5 She continued to outline the funding schemes available to the team for the year but said that until the Government had conducted its Funding Review, funding for the coming year was difficult to predict. There were several funding streams the Council could bid for and she assured the Committee that there was enough funding for the staff and services for the next two years.
43.6 In a response to why the Flexible Homeless Support Grant was larger for Babergh (page 37) the officer responded that historically Babergh had more homeless people that Mid Suffolk but that she anticipated this to even out in the future.
It was RESOLVED:-
1.1 That the Committee notes the information provided
1.2 That the Committee commend the Corporate Manager – Housing Solution and her team for the effort already taken and to receive a review in another six months.
Supporting documents: