Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services presented a report on proposals that would assist the Council to meet its statutory responsibilities to the homeless, under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended), through the provision of temporary accommodation via either Private Sector Licensed (PSL) or Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) arrangements.

The Cabinet Member advised that the Council was on course to achieve its target reduction in the number of homeless households in temporary accommodation to 1,750 within the current financial year.  However, the Government’s ongoing welfare reforms, including the introduction of Universal Credit, were expected to result in unprecedented demand for assistance with re-housing as a consequence of homelessness and the proposals were, therefore, aimed at addressing both existing and future demand. 

The proposals within the report included the extension of arrangements with the 19 existing PSL contractors while the new, four-year contract was procured.  The Cabinet Member commented that the new arrangements would form part of the package of measures put in place to support individuals and families through the trauma of becoming homeless and back into permanent accommodation. 

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Approve the proposals to procure a new contract for the provision of private sector properties for use as either temporary accommodation (Private Sector Licensed) or Assured Shorthold Tenancy for homeless households or those imminently threatened with homelessness, in accordance with the strategy set out in the report;

(ii)  Waive the necessary requirements, in accordance with the Council’s Contract Rules, in order to extend the current contracts for the provision of Private Sector Licensed properties with the 19 contractors up to a maximum of five months or the commencement of a new contract, whichever was the sooner; and

(iii)  Delegate authority to the Director of Community Solutions, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Social Housing, the Chief Operating Officer and the Director of Law and Governance, to conduct the procurement and enter into the contract and all other necessary or ancillary agreements with the successful bidder(s) in accordance with the strategy set out in the report.