The Head of Housing and Community Services introduced the report and explained that applicants had the right to request a review of certain homelessness decisions. Authority to contract out the function of carrying out reviews of homelessness decisions was permitted under the Local Authorities (Contracting Out of Allocation of Housing and Homelessness Functions) Order 1996, and the council had therefore contracted out this function under the delegated authority of the Head of Housing and Community Services. The benefits of this approach were outlined, including efficiency of specialist organisations, and the review being conducted independently of the council.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The contracting out of the Council’s homelessness review function under the delegated authority of the Head of Housing and Community Services be noted; and

2.  Specific delegation to the Head of Housing and Community Services to contract out homelessness review functions under Section 202 of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended) be added to the Constitution.