Agenda item

To submit a report by the Service Manager – Housing, Strategy, Commissioning & Policy.

Submitted – a report by the Service Manager – Housing, Strategy, Commissioning & Policy in relation to the above.

The Scrutiny Officer said that an invitation had been sent to Mrs Wendy Hughes, Chief Executive, Digartref Cyf., to the meeting but due to illness Mrs Hughes was unable to attend. 

The Service Manager – Housing, Strategy, and Commissioning & Policy reported that the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, Part 2 places a statutory duty on each local authority in Wales to carry out a homelessness review and adopts a homelessness strategy in 2018.  A homelessness strategy, under section 50 of the Act, is a strategy for achieving the following objectives in the local housing authority’s area:-

·      The prevention of homelessness;

·      That suitable accommodation is and will be available for people who are or may become homeless;

·      That satisfactory support is available for people who are or may become homeless. 

The Homelessness Regional Strategy is currently out for public consultation until 20^th November, 2018 and thereafter will be submitted to the Executive for adoption.

The Service Manager – Housing, Strategy, and Commissioning & Policy further reported that the six North Wales local authorities have worked jointly to establish a Homelessness Strategy and to share information and experiences.  The Chartered Institute of Housing has also afforded additional resource and support in creating the Strategy.   She noted that a Project Development Workshop Ltd (PDW) was commissioned to undertake a local review for Anglesey.  Data for the period April to October showed that 377 people have had contact with the Homelessness Service either by way of a pre-arranged meeting or by visiting the Council Offices to inform staff that they are at risk of becoming homeless or are homeless.  The reasons given for being homeless were i.e. breakdown of a relationship, family or parent not able to offer accommodation or leaving prison. 

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Supporting Communities that he was satisfied with the joint working that has taken place in producing a Homelessness Strategy across the region and thanked the staff for their work.

The Committee considered the report and raised the following matters:-

·      Clarification was sought as to how the Homelessness Strategy will be monitored. The Service Manager – Housing, Strategy, and Commissioning & Policy responded that a Regional Homelessness Delivery Group has been established with Housing Strategy Officers across the six North Wales authorities sharing information and working to the Homelessness Strategy with the support of the Chartered Institute of Housing.  She noted that on a local level monitoring reports will be submitted to the Senior Leadership Team and updated information can be shared with this Scrutiny Committee;

·      Reference was made that Gwynedd Council has outsourced it Housing Stock and questions were raised whether it would affect the joint working as regards to the Homelessness Strategy. The Service Manager – Housing, Strategy, and Commissioning & Policy responded that Homelessness is a statutory function on each local authority.  Gwynedd Council and this Council has a general letting policy and priority is measured within that policy when a person becomes homeless and it was not considered that there are barriers when a local authority has outsourced it housing stock;

·      Members referred that statistic/data needs to be afforded within the strategy which is relevant to this Authority.     The Service Manager – Housing, Strategy, and Commissioning & Policy responded that as the Homelessness Strategy is currently out for public consultation; it is timely to be able to modify the strategy and include local data for Anglesey if the Committee so wished;

·      Reference was made that the report noted that 50% of persons that have been approached have stated that staff within local authorities have been unhelpful and have not been courteous when dealing with problematic situations people find themselves in.  Members considered that this matter has not been dealt with within the Homelessness Strategy and suggested that this Authority can lead on potential training requirement for staff within the six local authorities in North Wales in dealing with sensitive situations as regards to homelessness;

·      Clarification was sought as to whether this Council is able to meet the needs of homelessness persons when they approach the Authority.  The Service Manager – Housing, Strategy, and Commissioning & Policy responded that managing expectations is a challenge.  The Council needs to assess the persons situation and a set criteria within the homelessness legislation needs to be adhered to;

·      Reference was made to the Lighthouse Homeless Centre at Holyhead and the facilities offered by Digartref Cyf.  Questions were raised whether there is a facility on Anglesey which may be afforded for homeless persons to be able to be accommodated overnight during the winter months.   The Service Manager – Housing, Strategy, and Commissioning & Policy responded that this Authority does not have a centre for homeless persons to be accommodated overnight. She noted that the Authority has a protocol as regards to extreme weather conditions when homeless persons sleep outside and bed and breakfast accommodation may be afforded;

·      Reference was made within the report that 75% of homeless persons needs one bedroom accommodation. Members referred that some homeless persons are being put in bedsits and bed and breakfast accommodation which sometime are not up to required standard and can be costly to the Authority.  The Service Manager – Housing, Strategy, and Commissioning & Policy responded that the Authority would be in breach of Welsh Government guidelines if they placed a homeless person in an unsuitable accommodation.  Discussions are undertaken with private landlords and they must be registered with the ‘Rent Smart Wales’ and comply with the Housing (Wales) Act 2014.  Bed and breakfast accommodation must also be adequate for people to be accommodated;

·      Reference was made to the increase of persons with Mental Health illness.  Questions were raised as to how persons with Mental Health illness is accommodated within the Homelessness Strategy.    The Service Manager – Housing, Strategy, and Commissioning & Policy responded that this Authority has established a Mental Health pathway when relevant agencies ( i.e. Health Authority and Hafal Mental Health Charity) meet to assist persons with Mental Health issues and to discuss how this Authority is able to help and accommodate these persons;

·      Members raised that potential major developments will be coming to Anglesey in the future which may affect the private landlord accommodation with rents being increased and people unable to afford to pay higher rents.  Reference was also made that the Universal Credit scheme is to be introduced in Anglesey at the end of this year which could affect people been unable to pay their rents and finding themselves being homeless.  The Service Manager – Housing, Strategy, and Commissioning & Policy said that the Housing Services has contributed extensively to the Development Consent Order (DCO) as regards to the Wylfa Newydd project and have raised questions as to the possible effects on the availability of homes on the Island and the effects of local people in private rented accommodation. She noted that this Authority will be building extra social housing within the next 3 to 4 years and it is imperative that such housing stock is ready to meet local demand.   The Officer also referred to the roll out of the Universal Credit scheme on Anglesey in December and noted that extensive training has been afforded to staff within the Council and different agencies together with roadshows across the Island to raise awareness of Universal Credit and potential problems which may be faced by tenants within the Councils Housing Service and private landlords.

It was RESOLVED to recommend to the Executive that it approves the Regional Homelessness Strategy and Local Action Plan.

ACTION : As noted above.