Meeting documents

To consider a report of the Head of Housing.

(i)         That the committee agrees to the release of up to £450,000 from capital receipts to fund the acquisition of two residential properties within the Borough for use as short-term temporary accommodation.

(ii)        In order to speed up the offer and purchase process, that the Chief Executive’s current delegated authority should be used to proceed with the purchase of suitable properties, in consultation with the Head of Housing, the Housing Briefholder, the Finance and Assets Briefholder and Section 151 Officer.

(iii)       That the council’s Steering Group for Democratic Improvement be asked at its earliest opportunity to consider that new delegations be added to the council’s Scheme of Delegation as follows:

Delegations to the Head of Housing

In consultation with the Housing Briefholder and Section 151 Officer, and subject to funding having been agreed, to purchase properties suitable for short term temporary accommodation.  

Manage a portfolio of owned and leased temporary accommodation.

            Offer occupation agreements to homeless households in owned and leased accommodation.

Set charges for owned and leased accommodation.

(iv)       That Management Committee agrees to the release of up to £16,000 from the Direct Leasing Reserve in order to equip and furnish the two properties prior to their being let.

The briefholder for Housing set out a report on the rationale for the council to purchase two homes that could be used as an alternative to more expensive bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation to temporarily house homeless individuals, and sought approval to allocate funds to facilitate these purchases.  She asked members to see the proposal as an ‘invest to save’ project.  There had been significant changes to the benefits system and young people under 35 years could only claim up to £114.23pw to cover accommodation costs.  A typical B&B bill was approximately £350pw and the local authority would need to pick up this shortfall.

Members were advised that a budgetary allocation of up to £450,000 from the council’s capital receipts would enable Housing to purchase two houses on the open market to meet local housing need.  It was expected that these properties would enable eight occupants to be housed instead of being placed in B&B, which would result in significant year-on-year savings to accrue to Council Tax Payers in the Borough.

In response to questions, the Head of Housing and the briefholder advised that the Dorset Councils Partnership had the skills and processes in place to manage such properties and move young people on to the next step to secure and permanent accommodation solutions.

Members also expressed concern and impact regarding the Homelessness Reduction Act.  This act would required the council to support homeless individuals, even if not from the local area, for up to 56 days and there was concern regarding workforce capacity and financial implications of this change.

Most members supported the principle of the proposal, although there was some concern in respect of the current economic situation of the council and whether all other alternatives had been considered.

In light of the current financial uncertainty it was proposed that the briefholder for Finance and Assets be added as a consultee in recommendation (3) of the report. This was agreed.

It was proposed by Cllr G Taylor seconded by Cllr R Kosior

Decision

 (i)        That the committee agrees to the release of up to £450,000 from capital receipts to fund the acquisition of two residential properties within the Borough for use as short-term temporary accommodation.

(ii)        In order to speed up the offer and purchase process, that the Chief Executive’s current delegated authority should be used to proceed with the purchase of suitable properties, in consultation with the Head of Housing, the Housing Briefholder, the Finance and Assets Briefholder and Section 151 Officer.

(iii)       That the council’s Steering Group for Democratic Improvement be asked at its earliest opportunity to consider that new delegations be added to the council’s Scheme of Delegation as follows:

Delegations to the Head of Housing

In consultation with the Housing Briefholder and Section 151 Officer, and subject to funding having been agreed, to purchase properties suitable for short term temporary accommodation.  

Manage a portfolio of owned and leased temporary accommodation.

            Offer occupation agreements to homeless households in owned and leased accommodation.

Set charges for owned and leased accommodation.

(iv)       That Management Committee agrees to the release of up to £16,000 from the Direct Leasing Reserve in order to equip and furnish the two properties prior to their being let.