PAPER D
08/05
Purpose : For Decision
DECISION UNDER DELEGATED
POWERS
DECISION CANNOT BE TAKEN
BEFORE MONDAY, 21 MARCH 2005
Title : PROVISION
OF HOUSING FRONT DESK AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION SERVICE
REPORT TO THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR
ADULT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
SUMMARY/PURPOSE
1.
To determine the future provision of the housing front
desk and homelessness prevention service.
It is proposed the service is brought in-house to form an integrated and
comprehensive homelessness advice, prevention and investigation service.
CONFIDENTIAL/EXEMPT
ITEMS
2.
There are no
confidential or exempt items contained within the report.
BACKGROUND
3.
With effect from 7June 2004 the Council contracted
with the Law Centre to provide, i) a front desk and homeless prevention
service, ii) an independent housing advice service.
4.
The front desk service is intended to assist the
Council reduce the number of homeless applications made by preventing
homelessness either by keeping people in their accommodation or securing other
accommodation rather than making a homeless application.
5.
The independent housing advice service is a service
that is free to individuals, families and landlords with housing problems
6.
Funding for the front desk service is by means of
£50,000 grant from the ODPM which is intended to link with government targets
to reduce homelessness. ODPM funding
has been secured for 2005/06 but is not guaranteed for future years.
7.
The Council has provided core funding to the Law
Centre (previously Independent Housing Advice Centre) to provide free
specialist advice to those with housing difficulties. Funding in 2004/05 amounted to £49,000. This is not linked to the ODPM grant and it is intended to
continue this core funding at the same level in 2005/06.
STRATEGIC CONTEXT
8.
The Councils Housing Strategy 2004/08 placed an
emphasis on the use of prevention measures to reduce the number of households
presenting as homeless. The strategy
set a target of 300 homelessness acceptances in 2004/05, 270 in 2005/06 and 240
in 2006/07. It is currently projected
that acceptances will be approximately 330 at 31 March 2005.
9.
Currently the number of homelessness cases accepted by
the Council is 11th highest out of 66 local authorities in the South
East region. The Council also has the 8th
highest number of families on the South East living in temporary accommodation.
CONSULTATION
10.
In view of the commercial sensitivity of the matter
discussion has been restricted to key partners only. These include the Councils contracts team and the Housing
Association Chief Executives Group.
FINANCIAL/BUDGET
IMPLICATIONS
11.
The service is funded by ODPM grant which will be used
to strengthen the front desk team within Housing Services. As such there are no immediate financial or
budget implications for the Council. It
should be noted that whilst ODPM funding may continue beyond 2005/06, there is
no guarantee of this.
LEGAL
IMPLICATIONS
12.
Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment)
Regulations (TUPE) are likely to apply.
Advice will be provided by the Councils Human Resources and Legal
Services sections in the event of approval to terminate the contract.
OPTIONS/EVALUATION/RISK MANAGEMENT
13.
The Service can either continue to be provided by
contract by external provider or in-house by Housing Services. The current split service whereby part of
the homelessness services are provided by an external organisation with other
complimentary and related services provided by Council staff does not make for
the most efficient, cost effective, integrated or holistic service. Homelessness prevention staff are employed
within the Housing Services team and as such it is inevitable that overlap and duplication of process occurs. In addition whilst having the statutory
responsibility for homelessness, the Council is not best placed to control all
aspects of the service. Whilst the
arrangement has led to a reduction in homelessness acceptances it is not
possible to evidence specifically how this has been achieved because of the
split and overlap of functions. The
Council is likely to fall short of its 2004/05 target by approximately 30
acceptances. If progress in line with
strategic objectives are to be made it should be expected that this will be
achieved by a fully integrated service enabling full control and direction of
the process.
14.
Homelessness presents significant risks to the
Council. Homelessness targets have been
agreed with the ODPM as part of grant conditions. Failure to achieve targets may lead to grant having to be
repaid. Failure to reduce homelessness
acceptances in line with strategic targets also has financial implications to
the Council in terms of cost of temporary accommodation.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
15.
It is recommended that the contract with the Law
Centre to provide the housing front desk and homelessness prevention service
be terminated with ODPM grant for 2005/06 used to provide a fully integrated
options, advice, prevention and investigation service within Housing
Services.
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BACKGROUND
PAPERS
Housing
Strategy 2004/08
Homelessness
Strategy 2003/07
Audit
Commission Report Oct 2004 Homelessness and Advice
Beacon
Peer Review Tackling Homelessness
Contact
Point : Phil Taylor, Acting Head
of Housing and Community Support
Tel: 823061 e-mail: [email protected]
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PHIL TAYLOR
Acting Head of Housing and Community Support
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GORDON KENDALL
Portfolio Holder for Adult
and Community Services
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Decision:
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Signed: .............................................................................................................................
Name of
Portfolio Holder
Date:
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