Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director (Resident Services and Climate Change)

The Assistant Director (Homes and Neighbourhood) gave a report on the Decant Policy which detailed the approach Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council takes should a tenant or leaseholder be required to vacate a property either temporarily or permanently. The Tenants Panel are to be consulted on this policy.

During the discussion the following points were raised:

·         A Member commented regarding the issue around pets.  Item 7.1 stated that residents are responsible for making arrangements  for rehousing their pets, but then it goes on to say after the discretionary disturbance payments in 23.4.6 that where tenants have found somewhere for their pet to stay the Council may reimburse reasonable rehoming costs. The Member suggested it might be useful under section 7 to refer to the statement in section 23.4.6

·         The Assistant Director (Homes and Neighbourhood) agreed that this could be done.

Action – Add wording to section 7 referring the reader to section 23.4.6.

·         A Member suggested that section 7 needed to have something about support pets and point them to a section that discusses this.

Action – To add wording to section 7 directing readers to information regarding support pets.

·         A Member suggested with regard to support for vulnerable people that there be something in there about assessing support for staff who might have to go out to these vulnerable people, do a risk assessment due to potential lone working safety risks.

·         The Assistant Director (Homes and Neighbourhood) replied there is a policy for staff and loan workers. There is an internal process in place for staff, including going out in the evening when lone staff are required to wear a lone worker’s device that can be tracked. Staff are kept up to date with online risk assessment training.  Also, training is being reassessed in regard to face-to-face risks due to incidents occurring in the Council’s reception area.

·         A Member asked for reassurance, that residents are decanted into suitable accommodation, for instance someone with a guide dog cannot be separated from them, that would not be considered suitable accommodation.

·         The Assistant Director (Homes and Neighbourhood) reassured that this would be highlighted in the report that when looking for suitable accommodation, i.e. a B&B, then one that allows for guide dogs would be sought.

·         Tenant panel commented that if someone is in a council property and have permission for a dog but they are being decanted to another house, surely the pet should be allowed to go with them.

·         The Assistant Director (Homes and Neighbourhood) responded that with this policy a tenant won’t be going from house to house or flat to flat. They will probably be placed in a B&B first until alternative accommodation has been found. It will depend on how long they are going to be decanted for. It could be an emergency and they just need to get out, but it could also just be for a couple of days. If it is going to be longer than that accommodation will be sought.

·         Tenant panel commented that they were under the impression that there were a number of decant properties.

·         The Assistant Director (Homes and Neighbourhood) responded an assessment is done for each empty property (that is subject to works during its void period) of how that property is going to be used. It could be for a decant, a homeless family or someone on the waiting list. At the moment there are no designated decant properties.

·         Tenants panel commented they had a person who had been decanted into another house, but their main issue was the fact that they had to pay a higher electric / gas rate because they couldn’t have a fixed rate due it being temporary.

·         The Assistant Director (Homes and Neighbourhood) responded that in the policy there is a section about discretion and other costs. In this specific scenario, the decant officer could refer to the manager with regard an out-of-pocket expense and this would then be reviewed.

·         A Member commented that a lot of people have cats that help with stress levels, they can be very nervous and unsettled if they don’t have their support cat and asked what would happen in this case.

·         The Assistant Director (Homes and Neighbourhood) replied this would be assessed on an individual basis.  If there was a need to move a tenant out immediately and it had to be a B&B there is an option for a friend or family to look after the cat with the intention to seek to move them with their pet asap.

RESOLVED: - Unanimous

a)    The Panel noted the report.

b)    The Panel unanimously agreed the policy to be approved by the executive member decision subject to consultation with the Residents’ Panel