Agenda item

(i)            That the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA) be noted and that the actions taken by officers to date and those proposed within the HRA Implementation Plan be endorsed.

(ii)          That the allocation of the two sources of grant funding from the Government – provided to tackle homelessness for the next two years to enable the new  legislation to be successfully implemented, be approved.

(iii)         That the Executive Director for Regeneration and Development, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holders, be authorised to consider and review any changes to the Implementation Plan and changes in processes at Newcastle Housing Advice as required to comply with the new Code of Guidance.   

A report was submitted to Cabinet showing changes to the Homelessness legislation together with an overview of the implications and risks of the changes to the Council.

Members’ attention was drawn to the new statutory duties at paragraph two of the report and the implications at paragraph three.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Social Cohesion stated that there would be a number of challenges and new obligations placed on the Council which could potentially double the caseload of the Newcastle Housing Advice Service.

The Council needs to ensure that it has a homelessness service that can rise to the challenges ahead.

Newcastle was being ’punished’ for the good quality of its service as its workload was being increased with some people accessing the service from the City of Stoke on Trent.  The Portfolio Holder requested that the Leader and Chief Executive meet with representatives of Stoke on Trent City Council with a view to achieving greater consistency and parity of service.

The Portfolio Holders for Communities and Social Cohesion and Planning and Housing had met with officers and it had been stated that demand, in some cases would double and it would affect the Council’s services.  Housing professionals had advised that the funding may not be enough and therefore it would need to be closely monitored so that vulnerable people in the Borough were supported.

The Leader acknowledged that a meeting with Stoke on Trent City Council  was necessary and that some recognition of the apparent inconsistency of service delivery was required from them.

The Leader asked the Portfolio Holder for Communities and Social Cohesion if he was aware that some authorities were dealing with homelessness by giving out one way rail tickets and sought confirmation that this Council was not doing this.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Social Cohesion stated that whilst there was an awareness that some of the homeless did have links to other parts of the country, they would not be sent away, instead, the Council would do what it could to help.

Members were made aware of the funding available to tackle homelessness, one of which was Burdens Funding but as yet there was no clear indication of the actual amount.

 Concerns were raised with regard to the number of rentable properties that were being sold which would only add to the problem and it was suggested that the only way to solve the problem would be to bring back some form of council housing.

Resolved:     (i)         That the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA) be noted

and that the actions taken by officers to date and those proposed within the HRA Implementation Plan be endorsed.

(ii)          That the allocation of the two sources of grant funding from the Government – provided to tackle homelessness for the next two years to enable the new  legislation to be successfully implemented, be approved.

(iii)         That the Executive Director for Regeneration and Development, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holders, be authorised to consider and review any changes to the Implementation Plan and changes in processes at Newcastle Housing Advice as required to comply with the new Code of Guidance.