Skip to Main Content

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, The Rhadyr, Usk, NP15 1GA

Contact: Democratic Services 

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

2.

Public Open Forum

Minutes:

No members of the public were present.

3.

Empty Homes Update pdf icon PDF 682 KB

Minutes:

Purpose:

The purpose of the report is to update members on the current position of empty properties in Monmouthshire and the approach being adopted to tackling this issue historically and for the future.

 

Recommendations:

To consider the extent and impact of Empty Homes on Monmouthshire and local communities and the current approach being taken to reduce Empty Homes.

 

Key Issues

1. Tackling empty properties is an area of social policy prioritised by Welsh Government fora number of reasons, including:

·         They could be a source of accommodation for people in housing need providing they are situated in the right areas and at the right price, either to buy or rent.

·         Also they are a source of accommodation that could alleviate issues of homelessness, another policy area prioritised by WG.

·         They can have a detrimental effect on the community in which they are situated if they have been left to deteriorate, for example, vandalism and vermin infestation.

·         Owners, as potential landlords can be regarded as small businesses and, if in receipt of a rental income, could be contributing to the local economy.

2. Although prioritised by the Welsh Government, the issue and problems associated with empty properties can vary from one local authority area to another. This is also true of the work undertaken by various local authorities in the work they undertake to bring their long term empties back in to use.

3. Work was undertaken by both Environmental Health and Housing on the condition of Monmouthshire’s empty properties during 2013 – 15 and March 2017 through a

programme of inspections. The conclusion of that work found that the issues associated with long term empty properties does not exist in any meaningful way in which their return would contribute to points highlighted in 3.1 above. The properties inspected were, particularly, not to be in a poor physical condition.

4. Informed by the Environmental Health condition inspections, the key conclusions are:

·         Monmouthshire does not have an empty property issue in the traditional sense as typified by headline news of rows of empty and dilapidated houses causing environmental issues.

·          A typical empty property found in Monmouthshire can be characterised as being:

o   Owned by family members;

o   refurbished for the owner to occupy;

o   sound condition and having no negative impact on its immediate environment;

o   often don’t lend themselves for affordable housing for various reasons such as often being in rural areas or to be too large and would command a high rent value putting it far outside the parameters of what constitutes affordable housing.

 

Member Scrutiny:

The Officer introduced the report and provided an update that the number of empty properties for 2016/17 was 696 explaining that the authority works with about 500 of those.  The remainder are RSLs, a number are private retirement homes and other homes are subject to probate.

The Principal Environmental Health Officer explained the role of his service in dealing with empty properties from an enforcement viewpoint.

 

The Head of Planning Policy and Place Shaping addressed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Gypsy and Traveller Pitch Allocation Policy pdf icon PDF 584 KB

Minutes:

Purpose:

To seek approval for the introduction of the Gypsy and Traveller Pitch Allocation Policy for any future Council owned Gypsy and Traveller Site in Monmouthshire.

 

Recommendations

To recommend to Cabinet that the Council adopt the proposed policy with immediate effect.

 

Key Issues:

1. An initial draft of the report was considered by the Committee on the 25th October 2017 for initial consideration and comment prior to it going out for consultation.

2. The Committee requested that the report be reconsidered after the consultation period ended.

3. Consultation was undertaken with members of the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment Project Group that was formed specifically to oversee the drafting of the Council’s Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA).

4. The consultation ended on the 15th December with one comment received.

 

Member Scrutiny:

The Head of Planning Policy and Place Shaping presented the report.  Following this, Members were invited to make observations:

 

The Chair asked if a site is earmarked in the LDP within the LA boundary or neighbouring authority. It was confirmed that Welsh Government policy is strengthening on identified need.  A recent study identified the need for some pitches in the county. This point will be considered in the next LDP review. The most recent GTAA revealed that all respondents stated a preference for a privately owned site.

Text Box: The Committee received the proposed Gypsy and Traveller Pitch Allocation Policy and, whilst recognising that there are no council owned sites currently available in the county, were happy to recommend that Cabinet and Council adopt the policy as presented. The Officers were thanked for their participation. It was commented that there is growing communication with people looking for sites. 

 

5.

Safeguarding Performance pdf icon PDF 531 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Purpose:

This purpose of this report is:

·         To evaluate the progress of Monmouthshire County Council’s key safeguarding priorities, in the period April – October 2017, using identified measures to highlight progress, identify risks and set out clear improvement actions and priorities for further development.

·         To inform Members about the effectiveness of safeguarding in Monmouthshire and the work that is in progress to support the Council’s aims in protecting children and adults at risk from harm and abuse.

·         To inform Members about the progress made towards meeting the standards in the Council’s Corporate Safeguarding Policy approved by Council in July

            2017.

 

Members received this report at Council on 14th December 2017 however there had not been the opportunity for the report to be scrutinised by Adult Select Committee prior to Cabinet and Council. The report was scrutinised by CYP Select on 13th November 2017.

 

Recommendations:

Members are requested to:

·         Note the key safeguarding risks and approve the priority improvement actions as set out at Appendix 2 to this report.

·         Endorse the evaluation of safeguarding progress set out in Appendix 5 to this report.

 

Key Issues:

 

This safeguarding evaluation is based on activity and information from April 2017 – October 2017. It builds upon the previous progress review reported in March 2017. The timing of this report reflects a biannual reporting cycle to Select Committees, Cabinet and Council. This reporting period saw the approval of Monmouthshire County Council’s Corporate Safeguarding Policy which extended the policy scope to cover statutory duties for both children and adults at risk in line with the Social Services and Well Being (Wales) Act (2014).

 

The analysis within this report reflects current legislation and policy and draws

on data and information concerning both groups.

 

1. Good Governance:

It is recognised that good progress has taken place in regard to previous recommendations made in regard to the Councils Senior and Directorate level. Changes at Regional Board level and within National Policy will required a continued planned response.

 

2. Safe Workforce

Whilst recognising that Safe Recruitment processes are well embedded, a new corporate roll out of the SAFE audit’s across the Authority has been completed. This has highlighted the significant Safeguarding Training programme to ensure the authority is compliant with the Revised Corporate Policy.

 

3. Preventative Approach

The new focus on the development of a Preventative agenda has led to increased partnership working with developing within Community Hubs and within the Community itself. Changes and ambiguity under the SSWA have changed the responsibility and accountability within early support services, and this developing work will need to link carefully within the authorities statutory responsibility.

 

4. Robust Protection

The Safeguarding Processes have been embedded within Child and Vulnerable Adult protection for a long time. Within Children’s Services the ongoing agenda of change has created a good time in which to review current CP processes and procedures, and to ensure staff understand the requirements and expectations of their role and task. Further to this, where pressures both internally and externally are identified  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Melin Private Leasing Scheme pdf icon PDF 181 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Purpose:

This is a follow up to the report received by the Committee on 12th September 2017 and advises that the Council’s contract with Melin Homes to manage the Private Leasing Scheme (PLS) will end in June 2018. The report updates the Committee on the due diligence findings and considers the options for the future scheme management. The report also provides an update on Welsh Government temporary accommodation funding and its relevance to the PLS.

 

Key Issues:

1. Under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, the Council has a duty to both respond to

homelessness and to prevent homelessness. The Act also provides the power to

discharge the associated duties into the private rented sector. Strengthening prevention activity is an on-going priority, including engaging with private landlords to enable access to private accommodation as a key option for the Council to discharge its homeless duties and minimise over reliance on social housing and the need to utilise bed & breakfast.

2. A PLS has operated for over ten years. It was initially established due to the lack of social housing and supports the Council to discharge its statutory duties and helps to minimise bed & breakfast use. The PLS was transferred to Melin Homes in 2009 under contract, which ends in June 2018. A decision now needs to be made about the future of the PLS and the Council is actively preparing for the end of the contract and undertaking a process of due diligence. Melin no longer wish to

manage the scheme, in part, due to Welfare Reform changes. Of relevance is the

Department of Work & Pensions decision from April 2017 to remove the ability to claim a £60 pw per property temporary accommodation management fee subsidy, through housing benefit. Welsh Government have replaced with additional Rate Support Grant.

3. Although the Council continually seeks to access private rented opportunities, the ability to deliver the required number of properties is limited for a number of reasons including:

·         Homeless applicants typically are low income households and in receipt of benefit.  Lettings agencies and landlords are often reluctant to accept households on benefit.

·         Many households cannot afford to meet local rents and upfront private sector costs.

·          Vulnerable households are often perceived, often incorrectly, as a risk to landlords

·         Some households with complex needs are difficult to accommodate in any sector

An update was provided that since the report was compiled, the forecasted overspend of £127,000 has reduced to £98,000. The projected overspend in 2018/19 has reduced from £229,000 to £150,000.  For 2018/19, this is due to properties reducing e.g. going back to landlords and not being returned to Monmouthshire.  A review of house share properties leading to their re-designation to hostel status means that a management cost can be charged, covered by housing benefit and will provide income.  It was added that the Minister is due to announce that authorities that lost out from the removal of the management fee will be reimbursed for 2016/17 only and this should reduce pressure on budgets for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Adults Select Forward Work Plan pdf icon PDF 191 KB

Minutes:

The Adults Select Committee Forward Work Plan was noted.

8.

Council and Cabinet Work Plan pdf icon PDF 274 KB

Minutes:

The Council and Cabinet Work Plan was noted.

9.

To confirm the date of the next meetings as Thursday 8th February 2018 at 10.00am (Special Meeting) and Tuesday 20th March 2018 at 10.00am.