Issue - meetings

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and to make the recommendation to the Council set out below:

(1)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Housing and Communities, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing Services, to spend the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant set out in para 3.2 of the agenda report and the Homelessness Reduction Act New Burdens Grant set out in para 3.3 of the agenda report in line with the government guidance issued with the notification of the grants.

(2)  That the additional income received from the licencing of Houses in Multiple Occupation be used to fund the additional staffing and IT resources required to implement the new government regulations as set out in para 5.2 of the agenda report.

RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL

(1)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Housing and Communities, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing Services, to spend the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant set out in para 3.2 of the agenda report and the Homelessness Reduction Act New Burdens Grant set out in para 3.3 of the agenda report in line with the government guidance issued with the notification of the grants.

(2)  That the additional income received from the licencing of Houses in Multiple Occupation be used to fund the additional staffing and IT resources required to implement the new government regulations as set out in para 5.2 of the agenda report.

The Cabinet received and considered the agenda report.

This item was presented by Mrs Kilby.

Mrs Grange and Mrs Rudziak were in attendance for this matter.

Mrs Kilby prefaced her introduction with a reference to this being rural housing week and she mentioned a very positive and productive community land trust forum meeting which had taken place the previous evening. It had been well attended and she thanked officers for their contribution to it. She summarised the two aspects of the report (sections 3 and 5) relating to the proposed use of (a) the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant and the Homelessness Reduction Act New Burdens Grant and (b) the additional income received from the licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMO).

In relation to (a), Mrs Grange queried the accuracy of the outstanding figure of £218,200 in para 3.2 of the report. This was cross-checked during the discussion and the sum was verified to be correct. She advised that an appointment had now been made to the new post of a Rough Sleepers Outreach Worker (RSOW) and the successful candidate would start in the first week of September 2018, working primarily in Chichester city but also elsewhere in Chichester district. 

Members spoke in support of the proposed use of the grants and resources to help address homelessness.

Mrs Kilby and Mrs Grange responded to questions about (i) how CDC would become aware of people who were at risk of encountering housing problems, not only to assist them but also to help prevent homelessness; (ii) the fees to be levied when applying to license properties for HMO status; and (iii) where the new RSOW would be based.

Decision

The Cabinet voted unanimously on a show of hands to make the recommendations below. 

RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL

(1)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Housing and Communities, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing Services, to spend the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant set out in para 3.2 of the agenda report and the Homelessness Reduction Act New Burdens Grant set out in para 3.3 of the agenda report in line with the government guidance issued with the notification of the grants.

(2)  That the additional income received from the licencing of Houses in Multiple Occupation be used to fund the additional staffing and IT resources required to implement the new government regulations as set out in para 5.2 of the agenda report.