Agenda item

Briefing Note of the Director of Adult Services and Housing

The Scrutiny Board considered a Briefing Note of the Director of Adults Services and Housing which provided a detailed update on the progress of the Housing and Homelessness Service, together with the key initiatives that have been implemented during the previous 12 months.

The Briefing Note indicated that the Council approved its Housing and Homelessness Strategy (2019-2024) in March 2019 which is the core Strategy that drives the service forward. The Strategy has four key areas of focus:

·   Preventing homelessness

·  Supporting homeless households

·  Support for people and communities

·   Improving existing homes

·  Housing development

The Strategy Action plan is currently being refreshed to demonstrate progress against actions and to ensure it reflects the current housing priorities in the city. The Housing and Homelessness Service has undergone a significant transformation over the previous three and a half years with a number of initiatives/projects being worked on which have:

·  Reduced the financial burden on the Authority whilst providing better quality temporary accommodation options.

·  Increased the number of households where homelessness is prevented or relieved and therefore decreasing the number of households in temporary accommodation.

·  Increased the number of properties available to households in exceptional housing need that are either at social/affordable rents or at the Local Housing Allowance rates if in the private rented sector.

A table in the Briefing Note set out in detail a number of projects/improvements that have been implemented over the previous 2 years and the progress that these have achieved.

The Briefing Note also detailed work undertaken with Registered Providers and other organisations/landlords in the City to ensure that there are appropriate levels of accommodation built in the City to meet the needs of residents.

The service has seen an increase in the number of families presenting as homeless throughout 2022 and anticipate this will continue into and through 2023.  It is also anticipated that there will be an increase in the number of single people presenting as homeless and an increase in rough sleepers.  These increases are largely driven by the following factors;

·  With the likelihood of a recession and the cost-of-living issues it is anticipated that more households will struggle financially to meet their housing costs, whether this is rented or mortgage payments.

·  Other factors include a buoyant private rented sector and an increase in Domestic Abuse presentations

·  During previous financial downturns there has been an adverse impact on young people living at home who are evicted by their parents/guardians due to pressures on the family.

·  The service has a number of actions in place to support the mitigation of these risks as identified earlier in the report based on prevention, effective temporary accommodation where required, and move on.

The Scrutiny Board made comments asked questions and sought assurances on a number of issues including:-

·  The operation of the new IT system

·  How the service is benchmarked

·  Operation of the new contracts

·  The work undertaken by the Partnership Forum

·  New housing projects taking place in Wyken ward (It was noted that

Wyken ward Councillors will be kept informed of developments in this

matter)

·  The Homefinder Allocations Scheme including pressures, particularly

 in relation to larger homes; bandings and how these operate;   transparency in relation to how housing is allocated; and the 12 monthreview of the Scheme

·  Maintenance of properties including those brought by the Council for housing provision; inspection of properties to ensure they are fit for purpose, including checks regarding damp and mould; and how complaints regarding this are dealt with. (In light of recent national events, it was noted that officers would be undertaking refresher training in this regard in the New Year)

·  Enforcement undertaken in relation to properties, including via the HIMO licensing scheme

·  Information regarding rough sleepers in the City, including information from the annual rough sleeper count and wellbeing and mental health support offered

·  Work being undertaken in relation to empty properties in the City and  powers available to Local Authorities to deal with this. It was noted that empty properties would be considered in detail by the Scrutiny Board later in the Municipal Year as part of their Work Programme

·  How the One Coventry approach is applied to the Housing and Homelessness service as a whole

·  Information in relation to an increase in Domestic Abuse presentations

·  Advice available for residents who are struggling to pay their mortgages

·  The new strategy of converting garages in certain areas into houses and the rationale behind this

·  Issues associated with under occupancy of properties

The Scrutiny Board acknowledged all of the excellent hard work being undertaken in relation to this work and asked that their appreciation be forwarded to the Team.

RESOLVED:-

1)  That the contents of the Briefing Note will be noted and welcomed

2)  That the Scrutiny Board be provided with information in relation to the increase in Domestic Abuse presentations

3)  That officers be requested to review the Council’s website to ensure that there is clarity of information for residents with mortgages who are at risk of defaulting and being homeless. 

4)  That the 12 month review of the implementation of the Homefinder Allocations Scheme be added to the Scrutiny Board’s Work Programme