Agenda and draft minutes

Cabinet Member Sara Burch introduced the report, highlighting significant progress in preventing homelessness in Monmouthshire. She recognised the work of the homelessness team and explained that improvement had been achieved through steady, incremental change. Key successes included the effective elimination of bed and breakfast use, improved temporary accommodation through leased, individual, Severn View and purchased properties, a better geographical spread of accommodation, financial savings, and stronger prevention work which helps people remain housed where they approach the service early.

Looking ahead, priorities include increasing affordable housing supply, reducing time spent in temporary accommodation, retendering housing-related support services with a stronger focus on outcomes, expanding supported housing for people with complex needs, improving integration with health and other services, and strengthening work with children’s services to prevent young people and care-experienced young people entering the homelessness system. Councillor Burch also highlighted forthcoming legislation which will make homelessness prevention a shared responsibility across public services, and concluded that Monmouthshire is well placed to implement the changes.

Ian Bakewell delivered a presentation and answered the members’ questions with the Cabinet Member and Rebecca Cresswell:

Why are people spending too long in temporary accommodation?

People are spending too long in temporary accommodation for two main reasons. Firstly, many households have support needs and we do not always have the right type of accommodation available to meet those needs. Secondly, there are not enough social housing vacancies becoming available and we are not yet delivering new social housing at the volume required to meet demand.

What are we doing to address the delays in moving people from temporary accommodation into permanent housing?

We are working to increase the delivery of social housing by unblocking the development pipeline and progressing sites that have already been identified. Our focus is on increasing the supply of affordable housing so that people can move more quickly from temporary accommodation into permanent homes.

Has the delay to the Replacement Local Development Plan (RLDP) affected this situation?

Yes. Delays to the RLDP put the future housing pipeline at risk because they can slow the identification and delivery of housing sites needed to provide additional homes. This could affect our ability to increase housing supply and reduce the time people spend in temporary accommodation.

Do you have problems when people are offered accommodation in a different area and do not want to move because their family, friends and support networks are elsewhere? How do you deal with that?

Yes, this is an ongoing challenge. Ideally, we would be able to provide accommodation in the exact area that a person wants to live, particularly as many applicants rely on local support networks such as family, friends and other agencies. However, because of the availability of accommodation across the county, it is sometimes necessary to place people in temporary accommodation outside their home area. When this happens, we try to help them move back to their preferred area as soon as possible.

What impact does this have on families and communities?

We are very  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Noted.

·        Provide written response on trauma-informed approach to reducing school absence.

·        Complete outstanding actions from Strategic Equality Plan scrutiny.

·        Arrange site visit to Tudor Street.

·        Schedule Youth Service as the sole substantive item for September.

·        Confirm date for November special meeting.

·        Invite P&O members to relevant November items where appropriate.

·        Consider opening the November Domiciliary Care, Day Opportunities and CIW report meeting to all councillors.

·        Scrutinise Rural Allocations Policy alongside the wider Housing Allocations Policy Review.

·        Confirm date and format for Housing Allocations Policy Review, with a possible special meeting in December.

The minutes were confirmed.