Agenda item

(Housing Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (C-002-2017/18).

(1)        That the Government’s Flexible Homelessness Support Grant (required to be ring fenced for use on homelessness services), already received by the Council in the sum of £277,000 in 2017/2018 and £313,000 to be received in 2018/2019 be used initially as follows: 

            (a)        to continue working with Genesis Housing Association in order to     provide private rented accommodation to homeless applicants to prevent     homelessness, with a budget of £60,000 in both 2017/18 and 2018/19 to    fund the cost of the Association’s Management Fees;

            (b)        to meet the Council’s own housing related support costs at the young             parents scheme Railway Meadow, Ongar with a budget of £29,000 in both 2017/18 and 2018/19; and

            (c)        to fund homelessness initiatives already agreed by the Cabinet at its             meeting on 2 February 2017 (Minute 130 refers) (other than the ‘Invest to    Save’            funding) in the sum of £43,500 in both 2017/18 and 2018/19 resulting          in a saving to the General Fund;

(2)        That a further report be submitted to the Cabinet later in the municipal year for consideration to be given:

            (a)        for the use of the balance of the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant        of approximately £131,000 in 2017/18 & £167,000 in 2018/19; and

            (b)        include options for the use of any additional grant received from the             Government in order to provide financial support to help meet with new duties             under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented a report on the possible uses for the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant.

The Portfolio Holder reported that the Council had received a new Government Flexible Homelessness Support Grant which was required to be ring fenced to be used on homelessness services in the sum of £277,000 for 2017/18 and would receive a further £313,000 in 2018/19.  A number of initiatives for the initial use of the Grant was detailed; and the Housing Portfolio Holder had already considered the use of some of the grant (Portfolio Holder Decision HSG-014-2016/17 refers).

Furthermore, the Portfolio Holder stated that, following the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 receiving Royal Assent on 27 April 2017, Officers had been informally advised that the Government was working towards a commencement date of April 2018. Under the Act, there would be considerable additional duties placed upon authorities nationally to prevent and reduce homelessness. Due to the additional duties and burdens being placed on authorities, the Government had announced that it would be providing financial support to help meet with the new duties. It was proposed that a further report would be submitted to the Cabinet at a later date on the use of the remaining Flexible Homelessness Support Grant funding and any further funding that might be received due to the implications of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, once the additional duties under the Act placed on the Council could be better assessed.

Cllr G Mohindra, as Finance Portfolio Holder, offered his support for the proposals.

Decision:

(1)        That the Government’s Flexible Homelessness Support Grant (required to be ring fenced for use on homelessness services), already received by the Council in the sum of £277,000 in 2017/2018 and £313,000 to be received in 2018/2019 be used initially as follows: 

            (a)        to continue working with Genesis Housing Association in order to     provide private rented accommodation to homeless applicants to prevent     homelessness, with a budget of £60,000 in both 2017/18 and 2018/19 to    fund the cost of the Association’s Management Fees;

            (b)        to meet the Council’s own housing related support costs at the young             parents scheme Railway Meadow, Ongar with a budget of £29,000 in both 2017/18 and 2018/19; and

            (c)        to fund homelessness initiatives already agreed by the Cabinet at its             meeting on 2 February 2017 (Minute 130 refers) (other than the ‘Invest to    Save’            funding) in the sum of £43,500 in both 2017/18 and 2018/19 resulting          in a saving to the General Fund;

(2)        That a further report be submitted to the Cabinet later in the municipal year for consideration to be given:

            (a)        for the use of the balance of the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant        of approximately £131,000 in 2017/18 & £167,000 in 2018/19; and

            (b)        include options for the use of any additional grant received from the             Government in order to provide financial support to help meet with new duties             under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

Reasons for Decision:

To consider the initial use of the Government’s Flexible Homelessness Support Grant funding and agree some initiatives for implementation.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

(i)         To not consider the initial use of the Government’s Flexible Homelessness Support Grant funding.

(ii)        To agree alternative options for use of the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant.

(iii)       To not receive a further report on the use of the remainder of the Grant or any further Government funding received as a result of the introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.