Agenda item

·  Approved the Placement Policy.

·  Noted that housing officers in placing clients out of borough would develop the necessary bespoke support arrangements consistent with the needs of residents and the local areas in which placements are made.

·  Agreed to a report on the progress made in implementing the new placement policy and its operational and financial impacts be submitted within 6 months from the date of implementation.

The Lead Member for Highways, Housing and Transport introduced a report on a revised housing placement policy.

The revised policy aimed to increase choice for those impacted by homelessness and enabled the Council to secure access to affordable rented accommodation in areas outside the borough subject to the necessary criteria outlined in the placement policy which was set out at Appendix A to the report.

The Lead Member outlined some of the current challenges in the homelessness and temporary accommodation budget which was reporting a significant overspend.  The current budget deficit was estimated at £6.7m and whilst action was being taken to achieve additional savings in 2024/25 estimated at £1.6m in the full year and a further £1.3m over the next two years, it was not anticipated that these financial objectives would be sustainable over the medium to longer term using the current traditional operational model of service.

The new Placement Policy set out the criteria that would be used to prioritise vulnerable residents for the scarce supply of social housing, local private rented accommodation and temporary accommodation.  It aimed to end the use of hotel accommodation except for the use in critical emergencies by the end of the 2024/25 financial year and to deliver sustained reductions in temporary accommodation costs.  The policy had carefully considered all the necessary regulatory statutory, partner consultation when considering placement, and partnering to support those placed out of borough, to allow such placements to be safely made and improve the longer-term affordable housing prospects for those placed.

Members agreed the necessity to reduce temporary accommodation costs and provide appropriate support to vulnerable residents.  The revised placement policy was agreed.

Resolved –

(a)  That the Placement Policy be approved.

(b)  That it be noted that housing officers in placing clients out of borough would develop the necessary bespoke support arrangements consistent with the needs of residents and the local areas in which placements are made.

(c)  That it be agreed that a report on the progress made in implementing the new placement policy and its operational and financial impacts be submitted within 6 months from the date of implementation.