Agenda item

[The report of the  Director for Planning, Regeneration and Development. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning.]To adopt a Housing Supply Plan, including the Temporary Accommodation Placements Policy following consultation.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning introduced the report which sought approval to the housing supply plan and temporary accommodation placements policy.

The Cabinet Member referred to the aspect of the report that deals with Temporary Accommodation placements. The increased housing market pressure and benefit changes had made it difficult for the Council to afford to place people in the borough at a price they can afford. The priority was to keep people in the borough, in particular the most vulnerable, and the report explained how families will be prioritised according to their circumstances.

The Cabinet Member drew attention to the support package for families being relocated which was summarised in the report. He had asked Council officers to   meet with other Councils that had already been locating families outside of London, to complete this package. Furthermore, the consultation on this proposed package had been undertaken with people directly affected in Temporary Accommodation and people likely to be affected by this policy.

In response to Cllr Engert’s questions:

• The 31 new Council homes were more expensive than initially envisaged as they were placed on small sites, and subject to increased construction inflation, in turn leading to a higher running cost. Agreed a written response is provided to Councillor Engert on the cost of the 31 homes.

• Paragraph 8.6 indicated that £281k would fund 250 AST’s. This was an invest to save proposal which, in the longer term, would yield more results in terms of preventing homelessness and reducing the need for expensive TA.

RESOLVED

1. To approve the Housing Supply Plan set out in appendix 1.Cabinet notes that the Plan requires regular updating and delegate’s authority to the Director of Regeneration, Planning & Development to maintain a current and comprehensive plan in line with prevailing conditions and requirements. 

2. To note the consultation feedback and the revised Equalities Impact Assessment for the Temporary Accommodation Placements Policy, attached as appendix 2 and appendix 3 respectively.

3. To approve the Temporary Accommodation Placements Policy, attached as appendix 4.

4. To approve the support package for households placed outside London set out in paragraph 6.25, which has been finalised following consultation, and notes the budget implications set out in paragraphs 6.28-6.29.

Reason for decisions

A decision is necessary for the Council to establish and maintain a current and comprehensive plan for all forms of housing supply in the borough, in order that housing need can be identified and supply initiatives formulated for all forms of permanent and temporary accommodation required meeting that housing need (recommendation 3.1).

It is necessary for the Council to take into account the results of consultation and the revised Equalities Impact Assessment in considering approval of the Temporary Accommodation Placements Policy (recommendation 3.2).

Having consulted on the Temporary Accommodation Placements Policy and considered the revised Equalities Impact Assessment, a decision on approval of the policy is required in order that it can be adopted and implemented (recommendation 3.3) and that officers are able to demonstrate a clear rationale, agreed eligibility criteria for suitable placements and due consideration of the support required.

Households that may be placed out of London will require assistance and support and a decision is necessary to put appropriate arrangements in place and ensure budgetary provision (recommendation 3.4). 

Alternative options considered

All feasible options to improve supply and meet demand have been considered in the preparation of the Housing Supply Plan.

The procurement and allocation of temporary accommodation has become increasingly difficult within the Haringey and London market.  Alternative options to meet demand are not available to the Council within current budget provisions and the allocation of any additional funding would detrimentally affect the provision of other Council services.

The Council could choose not to adopt a placement policy for temporary accommodation.  However, officers must be able to demonstrate a clear rationale, eligibility criteria for suitable placements and consideration of support packages in order to comply with current case law and be clear and transparent about its placement activity.