Issue - meetings

The Mayor advised the Council that this item had been withdrawn from the Agenda for this meeting for further consideration by the Cabinet Housing Panel and report back.

Recommendation from the meeting of the Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 12 June 2019 on the adoption of the Strategy.

The final draft Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy 2019-2024, as recommended by the Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee, was approved and recommended to the Council for adoption.

Recommendation from the meeting of the Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 12 June 2019 on the adoption of the Strategy.

(1)       The Decision Taken

RESOLVED:

That the final draft Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy 2019-2024, as recommended by the Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee be approved and recommended to the Council for adoption.

(2)       Reasons for the Decision

The Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee in November 2018 agreed to initiate a public consultation on the first draft Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy and this was completed by the end of January 2019.  Overall feedback on the strategy was positive with an average of 83% of respondents saying that the Council had got it right.

In response to Members’ questions, the Committee had noted that there were currently 2700 families on the housing waiting list and 700 on the transfer list.  There were 1398 people registered and queuing for one bed properties.  Of these 129 were couples and 1269 were single persons with 116 of these queuing for one bed sheltered accommodation only.

There was an upward trend.  Only people with the most pressing needs were on the waiting list.

The Council was taking active measures to prevent homelessness and these included working with Citizens Advice and the Resolve outreach service.

Report of the Corporate Director (Housing and Communities) sets out a new draft Housing and Homelessness Strategy informed by a recent review of homelessness in the Borough and engagement with all key stakeholders.

Report of the Corporate Director (Housing and Communities) setting out a new draft Housing and Homelessness Strategy informed by a recent review of homelessness in the Borough and engagement with all key stakeholders.

The Committee in November 2018 agreed to initiate a public consultation on the first draft Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy and this was completed by the end of January 2019.  Overall feedback on the strategy was positive with an average of 83% of respondents saying that the Council had got it right.

In response to Members’ questions, it was noted that there were currently 2700 families on the housing waiting list and 700 on the transfer list. There were 1398 people registered and queuing for one bed properties. Of these 129 were couples and 1269 were single persons with 116 of these queuing for one bed sheltered accommodation only.

There was an upward trend, but demand was restricted and only people with the most pressing needs were on the waiting list.

The Council was taking active measures were taken to prevent homelessness and these included working with Citizens Advice and the Resolve outreach service.

RESOLVED:

That the final draft Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy 2019-2024 be recommended to the Cabinet and the Council for approval and adoption.