Agenda item

(Copy herewith)

Cabinet approved the following temporary changes to the Housing Allocations Scheme (set out in detail in Appendix A of the report) for a fixed period of 9 months, commencing on 1 October 2017 and ending on 30 June 2018:

(a)  Where the Council accepts a rehousing duty to a household whose homelessness application has taken more than 8 weeks to investigate and determine – including those households whose applications are part of the backlog of outstanding homelessness decisions – the household’s ‘priority date’ in the Emergency Band will be adjusted to a date that is 8 weeks after the date that their homelessness application was received;

(b)   Where a homeless household is living in temporary accommodation and 6 weeks have elapsed since the Council has accepted a rehousing duty to them, Northampton Partnership Homes will proactively consider them for a ‘direct offer’ – based on their relative priority – and, after notifying the household, the Council and/or Northampton Partnership Homes may undertake ‘proxy bidding’, for all suitable properties, on their behalf; and

(c)     Northampton Partnership Homes will set aside an average of up to 5 properties a fortnight for ‘direct offers’ to homeless households for whom the Council has accepted a housing duty.

Councillor B Markham addressed Cabinet in respect of Items 18 & 19 and commented that the issues faced by homeless people were significant and far-reaching. He commented that that the report went some way to address the issues and noted that progress was being made in getting homeless people out of bed and breakfast accommodation. He noted that he welcomed the recommendations contained in Item 19 – Improving the efficiency of the Homeless review Service as any reduction in the amount time spent in temporary accommodation was progress. He questioned whether employing consultants to deal with the current backlog would lead to a permanent member of staff being recruited and he suggested that the workload and homelessness would increase.

Councillor Smith commented that she was pleased with the recommendations within the report and noted her concern about the number of people who were being housed outside of the Borough. As Chair of Scrutiny Panel 3 – Homelessness, she commented that they had asked that the Council adopt an ambitious plan and it was hoped that the changes to the Housing Allocations scheme in ensuring that homelessness was being dealt with was a positive step. She commented that both Cabinet reports were welcome response to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Panel.

Councillor Hibbert, as the relevant Cabinet Member, submitted his report and thanked the Councillors for their contributions and welcomed the cross party support. He noted that there had been issues recruiting which had contributed to the backlog and noted that in August there had been 87 families in temporary accommodation and that the number of people housed in Bed and Breakfast had decreased. In response to comments made, Councillor Hibbert explained that it had been unfortunate but necessary for people to be housed outside the Borough. In response to a question asked, Councillor Hibbert explained that Military Personnel would still be retain the ‘priority’ status as previously agreed by Council.

RESOLVED:

That the following temporary changes to the Housing Allocations Scheme (set out in detail in Appendix A of the report) for a fixed period of 9 months, commencing on 1 October 2017 and ending on 30 June 2018 be approved:

(a)  Where the Council accepts a rehousing duty to a household whose homelessness application has taken more than 8 weeks to investigate and determine – including those households whose applications are part of the backlog of outstanding homelessness decisions – the household’s ‘priority date’ in the Emergency Band will be adjusted to a date that is 8 weeks after the date that their homelessness application was received;

(b)   Where a homeless household is living in temporary accommodation and 6 weeks have elapsed since the Council has accepted a rehousing duty to them, Northampton Partnership Homes will proactively consider them for a ‘direct offer’ – based on their relative priority – and, after notifying the household, the Council and/or Northampton Partnership Homes may undertake ‘proxy bidding’, for all suitable properties, on their behalf; and

(c)     Northampton Partnership Homes will set aside an average of up to 5 properties a fortnight for ‘direct offers’ to homeless households for whom the Council has accepted a housing duty.