A MEETING OF THE HOUSING BOARD
WAS HELD ON 28 NOVEMBER 2001
The Mayor (ex-officio); Chairman of the Policy and Organisation Board (Councillor Edgar) (ex-officio) (P); Councillors Allen (P), Bartlett (Chairman) (P), Mrs Cully (P), Farr (P), Gill (P), Philpott (P), Rigg (P), Smith (P), Taylor (P) and Train (P)
It was reported that in accordance with Standing Orders, Councillor Train had been appointed to the Board in place of Councillor Mrs Batterbury.
1. APOLOGY
An apology for inability to attend the meeting was submitted on behalf of The Mayor.
2. MINUTES
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 5 September 2001 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.
PART II
3. EXTENDING INVOLVEMENT IN THE TENANT AND LEASEHOLDER CONSULTATION FRAMEWORK
The Board gave consideration to a report of the Housing Services Manager (a copy of which is inserted in the Minute Book as Appendix "A") in connection with the introduction of Road Representatives as an extension of the Tenant and Leaseholder Consultation Framework.
The Housing Services Manager reported that the Borough Council's consultation framework, known as the Tenant and Leaseholder Consultation (TLC) Framework, had been working in its current format since 1996 and comprised Residents' Associations and Housing Consultative Groups. Following development work with the Housing Forum, a need to review the TLC structure had been identified and this was currently underway. Existing Housing Consultative Groups had broadened their remit and now discussed wider community issues. As a result, Housing Services encouraged them to develop into Residents' Associations which would have effectively ended the existing of Housing Consultative Groups across the Borough. The groups were given a transitional period until December 2001 to become a Residents' Association.
The Elson Hardway and Forton Consultative Group was too big an area of the Borough to develop into a Residents' Association and Housing Services needed to look at options that covered the ward boundary where tenants and leaseholders would have the opportunity to become more representative whilst encouraging greater levels of participation within their community. The Lee-on-the-Solent Consultative Group was an active Group who were interested in forming a Tenant and Leadeholder section within the Lee-on-the-Solent Residents Association. However, this had not proved possible and the Housing Service again needed to consider the options.
A Road Representative who could represent a road or several roads in the area had been suggested. This possible extension to the consultation structure had been discussed with tenant and leaseholder representatives at the Housing Forum meeting held in October. An initial trial was proposed for the Elson, Hardway and Forton ward area commencing with St Vincent Road and in the Lee-on-the-Solent Ward starting with Skipper Way, Elmore Road area. Subject to Board approval, a consultation exercise with local tenants and leaseholders would be undertaken.
It was reported that the introduction of a twelve month trial for Road Representatives would provide the opportunity for tenants and leaseholders to nominate a representative for their area, supported by the full voting of tenants/leaseholders which would –
- provide a clear mandate to the Road Representative who would become part of the Housing Forum, incorporating the proportional representation ethos;
- strengthen affiliation to the TLC; and
- encourage participation and empowerment principles
At the conclusion of the trial period and, if successful, a further report would be presented to the Board to fully recognise Road Representatives as vehicles for the local representation of tenants and leaseholders.
By January 2002 it would have been possible to gauge the level of interest in Road Representatives as a consultative mechanism. The Housing Services Manager would then present a further report to the Board to address core standards and recognition criteria for Residents' Associations in the Borough. The constitution of the Housing Forum would need amendment to enable the recognition of Road Representatives as a vehicle for consultation and participation. A special meeting of the Housing Forum would be arranged should the Board approve the trial of a Road Representative.
RESOLVED: That approval be given to a one year trial of Road Representatives in the Borough to replace the Elson, Hardway and Forton and the Lee-on-the-Solent Consultative Groups.
4. THE PROVISION OF A LOW-LEVEL TENANCY SUPPORT SCHEME FOR HOMELESS CUSTOMERS
Consideration was given to a report of the Housing Services Manager (a copy of which is inserted in the Minute Book as Appendix "B") outlining the potential use of Supporting People charges, mainly through Transitional Housing Benefit (THB), as a means of funding new staff resources to provide support to households accepted for a temporary housing duty under the homeless persons provisions.
The Housing Services Manager reported that an urgent need to provide support to households living in temporary accommodation had been identified in a Best Value customer survey of homeless households. The survey identified a number of support functions that, if implemented, would provide a significant improvement in customer care and have the likely consequence of a reduction in occupation charge arrears and eviction. Although functions of this nature were above and beyond what was required by homeless statutory duties, the Housing Advice Team had previously tried to service these needs with the limited resources available. The appointment of a Homeless Support Officer would provide the opportunity to deliver such a service and release much needed resources within the Housing Advice team to respond to a continued increase in homelessness.
As part of the August 2000 restructure of Housing Services, a low-level support pilot scheme was established, delivered by the new Temporary Accommodation Officer post. Due to the significant success of the role it was proposed to extend the service by the creation of a further full-time post employed on a temporary contract expiring on 31 March 2004 and funded from THB and supporting people charges.
The priorities set for the 'Supporting People' scheme were services typically described as 'occupancy sustainment and floating support'. Further details of the services to be provided were set out in Appendix Two to the report. The experience of the pilot scheme had demonstrated the need to allow the scheme to evolve by incremental expansion of the specific services offered. The reasons for this were not only to develop a new scheme at a sensible pace but also because increased funding had to be identified before further staffing could be introduced. The pilot scheme had established that one full-time officer could service occupancy sustainment at present levels of homelessness. To implement resettlement work, a further full-time post was needed and it was anticipated that when a total of two officers were in post, there would be some scope to extend the work into the support of other specified groups of vulnerable clients.
The principles of the Government's 'Supporting People' programme and THB arrangements were reported to the Housing Committee in September 2001. Essentially these were that eligible 'Supporting People' claims prior to April 2003 would be converted to grant monies after that date. All existing services would continue until reviewed and thereafter be subject to on-going review. The timing of those reviews had not been announced but clearly would be some time after April 2003. The latest guidance was that any scheme in existence prior to March 2003 would be funded to at least March 2004. The certainty of THB funding until March 2004 meant that, in order for the Borough Council to maximise future funding, the scheme should grow as quickly as was prudent to meet identified need prior to April 2003.
The Housing Services Manager further reported that homeless households for whom an eligible service charge for support could be made now were those in Bed and Breakfast and lodgings. This was because those households had occupancy charge accounts direct with the Borough Council. The cost of employment of the proposed Homeless Support Officer was expected to be in the region of £23,120 per annum. The cost of the post would be funded through support charges added to existing occupancy charges – charges that in approximately 96% of cases would be funded through the THB scheme.
To cost the proposal, three variables had been identified, namely, -
- hourly charge for service (to assess Transitional Housing Benefit award)
- time taken to do the work (to assess Transitional Housing Benefit award)
- projected income (to assess the financial viability of the scheme
The report outlined the projections relating to funding 'income from THB and from Supporting People charges from which it was concluded that it was reasonable to assume that the THB scheme would fund 100% of the costs of employing the proposed Homeless Support Officer. However, even assuming a dramatic reduction in the levels of homelessness, it was anticipated that the HRA would have to contribute no more than £5,000 per annum. This amount could be financed from within the existing HRA staffing and administration budgets.
During consideration of this matter, the Housing Services Manager reported that, if it was established that funding could be found through the THB, it was hoped to appoint a second Homeless Support Officer. Concern was expressed that the timetable of Housing Board and Personnel Sub-Board meetings would cause a delay in this appointment and it was therefore proposed, and subsequently agreed, that the Housing Services Manager, in consultation with the Chairman, and agreement with the spokespersons of the other political groups, be authorised to fill the post when the finances had been identified and report back to a future meeting of the Board.
RESOLVED: That –
(i) the principle of the appointment of a Homeless Support Officer on a contract to expire on 31 March 2004, to be funded via 'Supporting People' charges to customers and the Transitional Housing Benefit system be approved;
(ii) should finances be identified for a second post, the Housing Services Manager, in consultation with the Chairman and agreement with the spokespersons of the other political groups, be authorised to fill the post and report back to a future meeting of the Board;
(iii) the matter be referred to the next meeting of the Personnel Sub-Board for consideration; and
(iv) the Housing Services Manager be given delegated authority to periodically review charges and, if appropriate, redirect the service to ensure sufficient 'Supporting People' resources were available to 100% fund the service.
5. EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the undermentioned item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 9 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.
6. COMMON LAND AT COURTS 12-16 ROWNER AND LAND AT THE REAR OF 28/30/32 VIAN CLOSE, BRIDGEMARY
Consideration was given to an exempt report of the Housing Services Manager (a copy of which is inserted in the Minute Book as Appendix "C") in connection with Common Land at Courts 12-16 Rowner and land at the rear of 28/30/32 Vian Close, Bridgemary, Gosport.
RESOLVED: That the recommendations set out in the exempt report of the Housing Services Manager be approved.
CHAIRMAN
