Agenda item

(Housing Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (C-016-2017/18).

(1)        That the remainder of the Government’s Flexible Homelessness Support Grant be used as follows:

            (a)        an additional £80,000 in 2017/18 and £80,000 in 2018/19 for            further             rental and damage deposit guarantee loans;

            (b)        the re-introduction of the Preventing Repossession Fund with a        budget of £40,000 in 2017/18 and £65,000 in 2018/19;  

(c)        three additional single homeless applicant (or parent or couples with one child) placements at the Zinc Arts Project at a cost of around £3,000 for the remainder of 2017/18, and providing there were no concerns, a further 3 placements be made from April 2018 (making nine in total) at a cost of around £6,000 in 2018/19;

            (d)        a budget of £8,000 in 2017/18 and £8,000 in 2018/19 to provide       landlord incentive payments, in partnership with Genesis Housing      Association, of £2,000 per property, paid on the basis that the property was       available to the Council’s homeless             applicant for a minimum period of 2    years; and

            (e)        an additional budget of £8,000 in 2018/19 to enable the        appointment of an external company to provide specialist services to rough       sleepers in the District; and

(2)        That a further report be submitted to the Cabinet should any additional grant be received from the Government in order to provide financial support to help meet new duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

In the absence of the Housing Portfolio Holder, who had tended her apologies for the meeting, the Leader of Council presented a report concerning the remainder of the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant received from the Government.

The Leader reminded the Cabinet that the Council had received a new Government Flexible Homelessness Support Grant (the Grant), which was required to be ring fenced to be used on homelessness services, in the sum of £277,000 for 2017/2018 and would receive £313,000 in 2018/2019. The Cabinet had previously agreed a number of initiatives for the initial use of the Grant at its meeting held on 15 June 2017 (minute 10 refers). The Housing Portfolio Holder had held initial discussions with Officers and was now making further recommendations for the use of the remainder of the Grant. These included: reintroducing the Preventing Repossession Fund; providing additional placements at the Zinc Arts Project for homeless families; expanding the existing Housing Association Leasing Direct Scheme; and the appointment of an external company to provide specialist services to rough sleepers within the District.

The Leader reported that, furthermore, 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 local authorities nationally to prevent and reduce homelessness. Due to the additional duties and the burdens being placed on authorities, the Government had announced that it would be providing further financial support to help meet with these new duties. Therefore, a further report would be submitted to the Cabinet should any additional grant be received from Government in order to provide financial support to help meet the new duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

The Cabinet felt that this was an excellent report which illustrated how the Council was proactive in dealing with the most vulnerable individuals within the Community. The proposal to place additional single child homeless family groups with the Zinc Arts Project was particularly welcomed.

Decision:

(1)        That the remainder of the Government’s Flexible Homelessness Support Grant be used as follows:

            (a)        an additional £80,000 in 2017/18 and £80,000 in 2018/19 for            further             rental and damage deposit guarantee loans;

            (b)        the re-introduction of the Preventing Repossession Fund with a        budget of £40,000 in 2017/18 and £65,000 in 2018/19;  

(c)        three additional single homeless applicant (or parent or couples with one child) placements at the Zinc Arts Project at a cost of around £3,000 for the remainder of 2017/18, and providing there were no concerns, a further 3 placements be made from April 2018 (making nine in total) at a cost of around £6,000 in 2018/19;

            (d)        a budget of £8,000 in 2017/18 and £8,000 in 2018/19 to provide       landlord incentive payments, in partnership with Genesis Housing      Association, of £2,000 per property, paid on the basis that the property was       available to the Council’s homeless             applicant for a minimum period of 2    years; and

            (e)        an additional budget of £8,000 in 2018/19 to enable the        appointment of an external company to provide specialist services to rough       sleepers in the District; and

(2)        That a further report be submitted to the Cabinet should any additional grant be received from the Government in order to provide financial support to help meet new duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

Reasons for Decision:

To consider the use for the remainder of the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant received from the Government and agree initiatives for implementation.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

To not consider the use of the remainder of the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant received from the Government.

To agree alternative options for the use of the remainder of the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant.

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