Communities, Housing and Environment Committee

20 March 2018

Is the final decision on the recommendations in this report to be made at this meeting?

Yes

 

Temporary Accommodation Strategy Review

 

Final Decision-Maker

Communities, Housing and Environment Committee

Lead Head of Service

John Littlemore, Head of Housing and Community Services

Lead Officer and Report Author

John Littlemore, Head of Housing and Community Services

Wards affected

All

 

Reason for urgency

 

The Council is in a position to close negotiations on the acquisition of temporary accommodation and any delay in agreeing the recommendation may result in the loss of opportunity to purchase the additional units.

 

 

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee:

1.   That the Communities, Housing & Environment Committee gives delegated authority to the Director of Finance and Business Improvement to determine the number, size and type of temporary accommodation to be acquired in accordance with the decision made the Communities, Housing & Environment Committee on 12 December 2017, within the previously agreed budget of £4.5m.

 

 

This report relates to the following corporate priorities:

·         Keeping Maidstone Borough an attractive place for all

·         Securing a successful economy for Maidstone Borough

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Corporate Leadership Team

21 November 2017

Communities, Housing & Environment Committee

12 December 2017



Temporary Accommodation Strategy Review

 

 

1.        PURPOSE OF REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

1.1     The Communities, Housing & Environment Committee agreed at its meeting on 12 December 2017 to purchase an additional 15  units of temporary accommodation at a maximum cost of £4.5m in order to meet an increase in demand from homeless households and to continue the positive impact of the Temporary Accommodation Strategy.

 

1.2     At the time of the report being drafted it set out the number and type of additional units to be purchased. The recommendation included a specific number of one and two bedroom property. However, the needs of the Council have altered in terms of the size and type of accommodation. This report seeks to amend the original recommendation to allow flexibility in the type and size of accommodation to be purchased whilst remaining within the original budget approved by the Committee.

 

1.3     The recommendation will permit the Director of Finance and Improvement to agree with officer from the Housing Service the type and size of accommodation that will provide the best use for the Council in implementing the Temporary Accommodation Strategy. It is proposed to broaden the size of accommodation originally envisaged from one and two bedroom properties, so that there is no restriction in the number of bedrooms per property acquired, as long as the overall budget is adhered to.

 

 

 

2.        AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

2.1     The Committee could choose not to follow the recommendation but to do so would not enable the Council to fully realise the benefit that could be obtained by purchasing a broader range of temporary accommodation.

 

2.2     Approve the recommendation to give delegated authority to the Director of Finance and Business Improvement to determine the number, size and type of temporary accommodation to be acquired in accordance with the decision made the Communities, Housing & Environment Committee and to remain within the budget approved in the report dated 12 December 2017.

 

 

 

3.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

3.1     The preferred option is within paragraph 2.2, as this will allow the Council to make best use of the funds previously agreed to purchase additional temporary accommodation.

 

 

 

 

 

4.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

Preventing homelessness is a key priority of the Housing Strategy.  ‘A home for everyone’ is a priority within the strategic plan

John Littlemore (Head of Housing and Community Services)

Risk Management

The budgetary pressures the Council faces must be balanced with the statutory homelessness duties that the Council must provide

John Littlemore (Head of Housing and Community Services)

Financial

The budget is to remain within the agreed amount referred to in the report of 12 December 2017. A reduction in the cost of providing temporary accommodation will provide ongoing savings

 

Section 151 Officer & Finance Team

Staffing

 

 

Legal

Involvement will be sought from MKLS throughout, where needed.

Sarah Swain, Team Leader (Contracts and Commissioning) Mid Kent Legal Services

Equality Impact Needs Assessment

 

 

Environmental/Sustainable Development

 

 

Community Safety

 

 

Human Rights Act

 

 

Procurement

 

 

Asset Management

 

 

 

 

 

5.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

None

 

 

 

6.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

Temporary Accommodation Strategy Review Report - December 2017