Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy and Growth, DCC.

The Board received an update presentation from the Housing Manager and Senior Policy Officer in relation to homelessness and rough sleeping and the draft County Durham Housing Strategy (for copy see file of minutes).

The Senior Policy Officer noted the consultation on the Principles and Priorities Paper that had taken place June through to August 2023, with feedback informing the draft strategy which would be consulted upon 30 October through to 18 December 2023.  She noted that following feedback, and any appropriate changes, the finalised strategy would be adopted in Spring 2024. 

Members of the Board noted that the Housing Strategy Vision was that: ‘By 2035 County Durham will be a place that has good quality homes that meet the needs of existing and future residents that they can afford.  The provision and quality of housing will support economic growth, contribute to improved health, and create and maintain sustainable, mixed and balanced communities.  People will live long and independent lives within connected communities’.

The Senior Policy Officer noted the updated and amended principles and priorities, as set out within the presentation, with additional focus on community safety, sustainable and safe communities, supporting health and wellbeing, energy efficiency and creating safe, accessible, prosperous and sustainable places to live.

The Housing Manager reminded the Board that it was a statutory requirement for Local Authorities to produce a Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and noted that the new draft strategy differed from previous strategies in that there was a more detailed evidence base to inform the strategy, as well as including a review of the housing needs across a range of cohorts to identify gaps and service offer.  She added that it was clear which landlords needed to be engaged with to assist in homeless prevention and access to the supply of accommodation.  She noted key points to note were that around 7,500 people contact the housing service each year claiming homelessness, and of which 2,500 were accepted as being homeless, in line with legislation.  She added that the main reasons for homelessness were end of private rented tenancy, domestic abuse and

parent/friends no longer willing to accommodate.

The Housing Manager noted that the draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy priorities were to:

1.       Prevent people becoming homeless

2.                 Improve access to and supply accommodation

3.                 Ensure the appropriate support is available for people who are

          homeless (work with partners to build resilience in people)

4.                 Reduce rough sleeping

The Housing Manager noted the next steps, in terms of the ongoing consultation through to 18 December, with final approval in March 2024, the establishment of a Homelessness Forum and development of a delivery plan.

Councillor R Bell noted that the County Durham Housing Strategy was being developed to consider housing issues across County Durham and asked how confident Officers were that relevant partners were engaged in the process and would help us to understand, identify and promote local solutions underpinned by community engagement.

The Housing Manager noted that the consultation was conducted by the Council’s Consultation Team and that there had been many presentations with partners such as Housing Providers, Private Landlords, Health and Social Care colleagues, the Department for Work and Pensions, and out at the Area Action Partnerships (AAPs).  She noted that all relevant partners were being engaged, with Housing Solutions looking to how the strategy would be delivered.

Councillor T Henderson asked what support was available prior to people prior to them becoming homeless.  The Housing Manager noted two sets of circumstance, those with no roof over their head, and those threatened with homelessness.  She added that partners had committed to refer issues to Housing Solutions as soon as possible to help prevent any evictions.

F Jassat noted that those dealing with housing benefits could be placed to provide an early intervention offer, noting the welfare reform changes over the last 10 years and the move to Universal Credit and that the upcoming statement from the Chancellor of the Exchequer may be informative.  The Housing Manager noted involvement where there was top-up or enhanced housing benefit for specialist provision, however, reiterated the close work with the Revenue and Benefits Section at the Council.

N Appleby, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner noted that the PCC worked in partnership to tackle issues such as drug and substance misuse, including with the Criminal Justice Board, and noted work with ex-offenders to help them stay away from temptation and to help them maintain their tenancies.  The Housing Manager noted the work via the Safe Durham Partnership Board and of delivery plans to be in place for each cohort, including ex-offenders.  N Appleby welcomed the opportunity for the OPCC to feed into the consultation process.

The Director of Public Health welcomed the new draft strategy and the links to the new JLHWS.  The Chair noted the importance of embedding the health and wellbeing approach within housing and the successes in Durham with the Council and Partners.  The Housing Manager noted the work with colleagues from Public Health in that regard, noting how that impacted individual strands, such as homelessness, could be shared with the Board.  The Senior Policy Officer added that the wellbeing model was at the pilot stage, and relevant information and slides could be shared.

Resolved:

(i)       That the overview of the consultation on the Principles and

          Priorities Paper be noted;

(ii)      That the content of the Draft County Durham Housing Strategy be           noted, and for any feedback or comments to be provided before the     end of the consultation period.