PAPER C

THE CALL IN PERIOD FOR THIS DECISION EXPIRES AT 5.00 PM ON TUESDAY, 5 APRIL 2005. THE DECISION CANNOT BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL AFTER THAT DATE.

RECORD OF DECISION TAKEN UNDER DELEGATED POWERS AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON THURSDAY, 24 MARCH 2005

Present : Mr G S Kendall, Portfolio Holder for Adult and Community Services

Miss A Lisseter, Committee Services

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08/05 PROVISION OF HOUSING FRONT DESK AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION SERVICE

The Portfolio Holder gave consideration to the report of the Audit Commission which proposed to determine the future provision of the housing front desk and homelessness prevention service. The report proposed the service be brought in-house to form an integrated and comprehensive homelessness advice, prevention and investigation service.

The front desk service was funded by means of £50,000 grant from the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) which has been secured for 2005/06 but not guaranteed for future years.

The service was currently provided by contract by an external provider. However this current split service whereby part of the homelessness service were provided by an external organisation with other complimentary and related services provided by Council staff did not make for the most efficient cost effective integrated or holistic service. The report would address the current overlap of functions caused by the split service arrangements.

DECISION TAKEN :

THAT the contract with the Law Centre to provide the housing front desk and homelessness prevention service be terminated with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister grant for 2005/06 used to provide a fully integrated options, advice, prevention and investigation service within Housing Services.