Agenda item

(i)         Report of the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Economic         Development.

(ii)        Presentation by Andrew Burnip, Core Team Manager, Housing            Solutions, Regeneration and Economic Development.     

The Chair introduced the Core Team Manager, Housing Solutions, Andrew Burnip, who was in attendance to give a presentation to Members in relation to the progress of the Homelessness Strategy (for copy see file of minutes).

The Core Team Manager reminded Members that the duty for Local Authorities to provide a review of housing need and publish a 5 year strategy, a consequence of the Homelessness Act 2002, with a Strategy being in place by 2003, refreshed for 2008 – 2013.  Members noted the three main strategic objectives in this regard:

·        To prevent homelessness by delivering prevention and housing options focused service across County Durham that delivers advice and assistance to all in housing need.

·        To ensure that sufficient, appropriate and affordable accommodation is available for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

·        To support people who are homeless or who are at risk of repeat homelessness.

It was explained that an exercise had been undertaken to bring together services so that they were now offered from 2 locality based offices, and overall there had been a 30% reduction in front line staffing.  Members learned that this had resulted in smarter working practises being developed, with increased focus on quality assurance through procedures that encompassed excellent client care, good supervision, identifying training needs and robust audit arrangements.  The Core Team Manager added that ensuring a consistency of service had proven challenging, however the measures put in place were working well.

The Committee learned that the Homelessness Action Partnership (HAP) had been re-launched, now comprising of 3 locality based forums supported by the Core Team, with the Chairs being representatives from the Third Sector.  It was noted that this was augmented by a Third Sector Forum that comprised of those from the Community and Voluntary Sector (CVS) as well as Registered Social Landlords (RSLs).  Councillors noted that there was an allocation of £30,000 for each of the local forums in order to meet local needs such as food banks; training materials relating to drug and alcohol misuse; and offsetting bad debt via options such as Credit Unions. 

Members noted that in some cases, those with debt may need to have conditions set such that they save for a period in order to try to service the debt and DCC was running a pilot scheme to help provide quick access to a credit union, with support and finance advice.

The Core Team Manager added that there was ongoing work with RSLs in respect of delivering DKO via digital television and access via smart phones, which had generated 26,000 hits in the last 3 months, or 155 bids of which 8 were successful.  Councillors noted that a pre-eviction protocol was in place with RSLs where DCC could contact those tenants and see what could be given. 

Members were also informed that there was an Under Occupation Officer looking at issues of large and older houses that may only have a single tenant.  Councillors were informed that a process of mapping the impact of Welfare Reform was also being undertaken.

The Core Team Manager noted that the smarter working practices put in place were not simply in order to deal with reduced budgets; measures put in place were also designed to improve performance and consistency of service.  Members learned that there were activities such as the appointment of Prevention Champions, 400 staff over 30 organisations including people such as Probation Officers and Health Workers that may be better placed to detect the early signs of problems with tenancies.  It was added that a “Think Family” approach was being undertaken, looking at assessing and addressing the wider needs of some tenants and the Family Wise and Family Intervention Project (FIP) were able to access some European Social Fund (ESF) monies to help those most in need.  Councillors were informed of a Vulnerable Adults Protocol that was in place to help make those people’s tenancy sustainable long term.  It was added that there was a housing options “wizard” on the housing solutions website that offered advice to tenants and prospective tenants.

The Committee were informed of a Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) grant of £400,000 that was being used to help tackle homelessness, with many preventions tools being made possible including amongst others: a bond guarantee scheme for those looking to rent in the private sector; a prevention fund offering up to £400 to help with arrears or fees to stop an eviction; the “Remain Safe” scheme, formally ran by Developing Initiatives Supporting Communities (DISC) now operated by the Safe Durham Partnership (SDP).  It was noted that in effect, through the SDP, DCC’s Direct Services would be carrying out the works to harden security at properties with the budget now being solely used for equipment rather than split between equipment and staffing costs.  The Core Team Manager added that there were also specialist Debt and Welfare Rights Advisors together with funds relating to mortgage rescue and repossession.  Councillors learned of the Discretionary Housing Payment Protocol, a Government grant that Local Authorities can use to help individuals, with £177,000 being issued last year.  Members noted that the amount now available would be £333,000, with a top up of £100,000 from DCC.

The Core Team Manager explained that the Authority must be able to provide temporary accommodation and after Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) for County Durham, a mapping exercise was carried out to ascertain what provision each of the pre-LGR District Authorities had in place resulting in an options appraisal and an invitation for tender for a Holistic Temporary Accommodation and Support Service (HTASS) being issued. 

Members noted that there was funding within the Regeneration and Economic Development (RED) and Adults, Wellbeing and Health (AWH) budgets for 3 years providing 22 units for temporary accommodation with support. 

The Committee learned that the turnaround for temporary accommodation was 3 working days, with a Joint Protocol in place for 16/17 year olds offering up to 16 “crash pads”, 5 of which are ring fenced to Children and Young People’s Services (CYPS) and that this, in reducing the use of Bed and Breakfast type accommodation, had effected a cost saving.  The Core Team Manager explained that there were 200 “Lets” with support allocated within the private rented sector (PRS) and that there was links to new “Night Stop” provision, which was brought in-house, offering up to 3 week provision rather than 3 nights.  Councillors noted that “Step Forward” supported housing offered 14 2-bed properties with help with transitional move-on, to ease problems of the of “bed blocking”.  It was added that there was support regarding tenancy conversion, with 9 months support and that Housing Solutions funding for this was allocated for 3 years.

Councillors were informed of various accommodation provided including: “The Fells” a £1.8 million “Places for Change” project funded through the Homes and Community Agency (HCA); a new YMCA facility at Chester-le-Street and a £500,000 extension to Stage 2 of the supported housing scheme at Shotton Colliery. 

Members were asked to note that there were several proposals in development including: “No Second Night Out” a scheme to prevent rough sleeping, with DCC as the lead Authority; an Adults facing Chronic Exclusion (ACE) pilot scheme with The Cyrenians; and the regional “Through the Gate Plus” service working with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and DCLG to help those exiting prison to access short stay accommodation for up to 14 weeks.

The Core Team Manager concluded by noting that performance in relation to homelessness had noted a 12% increase in the number of preventions over the period 2008 to 2012 and a 30% reduction in the number of acceptance of homelessness.  The Committee noted that there was also a 19.2% reduction in the number of homelessness applications and that a “rough and ready” figure for the cost of each application was around £5,300.  It was noted that the cost per prevention for DCC was in the order of £230, equating to a non-cash saving of around £1.4 million for 2011/12.

The Chair thanked the Core Team Manager and asked Members for their questions. 

Councillors questioned the number of presentations versus acceptances and asked about issues such as forces and ex-forces personnel having access to support and the role of DCC and partners in providing advice in response of Welfare Reform changes.

The Core Team Manager explained that the raw numbers of presentation versus acceptances could be misleading as the presentations included all enquires “through the door”, even phone calls where advice is given.  Members were informed that DCC worked in parallel to organisations such as St. Peters Court at Sacriston, supporting in kind, helping to move people on to their own accommodation. 

The Core Team Manager noted that issues relating to the Durham Key Options (DKO) allocations policy and changes such to support service personnel may be highlighted in the upcoming agenda item. 

Members were informed that issues of Welfare Reform were being looked at and the impact of reduced benefit for under-occupancy would remain to be seen, whether people would be prepared to move to properties with less bedrooms to remain in receipt of benefit or “stay and pay” to remain at their current property.  Councillors noted that a number of RSLs were starting to offer “shared units” and that Government had set out a transitional protection regarding a “bedroom tax”, albeit for 9 months.

Councillors explained that the Core Team within DCC Housing Solutions has staff to look at issues such as mortgage rescue and loan funds, however noted that although a 5% impact from Welfare Reform could equate to a need for 2 full-time equivalents to cope with demands upon the service.  Members understood that this would be albeit working in partnership with colleagues from the Welfare Rights Team in supporting people, together with issuing self-help toolkits for individuals and RSLs to help them help their tenants.

Resolved:    

That the presentation and report be noted.