Agenda item - Matters Referred to Cabinet by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

To consider the Scrutiny Review: Temporary Accommodation (TA) Placements Policy and Private Rented Sector (PRS) Discharge Policy - Introduced by the Housing, Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel Chair.

To agree the cabinet response to the Scrutiny, Review Temporary Accommodation (TA) Placements Policy and Private Rented Sector (PRS) Discharge Policy - to be introduced by the Cabinet member for Housing and Planning &Deputy Leader.

Declarations of Interest for this Item:

None

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1. Noted the recommendations of the Housing, Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel Review as agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee attached at Appendix 1.

2. Agreed with the responses to these recommendations as set out in the table attached at Appendix 2

Reasons for decision

Under the agreed protocols, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) has responsibility for all overview and scrutiny functions on behalf of the Council, where the OSC can assist the Council and the Cabinet in its budgetary and policy framework through conducting in-depth analysis of local policy issues and can make recommendations for service development or improvement. The Committee may:

(a) Review or scrutinise decisions made or actions taken in connection with the discharge of any of the Cabinet’s or Council’s functions.

(b) Make reports and recommendations to the full Council, the Cabinet or relevant non-Executive Committee in connection with the discharge of any functions.

(c) Make reports or recommendations on matters affecting the area or its inhabitants.

The Housing, Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel met on 26^th September 2024, where it discussed relevant policies that were due for revision. In addition, a number of comments were received related to the length of time that families had to wait for a housing placement. Therefore on this basis, it was agreed that a review would be carried out by the Housing, Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel.

On 18^th September 2025, the OSC agreed the review of the Housing, Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel on the Temporary Accommodation Placements Policy and Private Rented Sector Discharge Policy. The OSC agreed to send the recommendations to Cabinet for response. (Appendix 2).

Alternative options considered.

None.

The Chair of Housing, Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel introduced the report of the Scrutiny Panel.

It was explained that the Housing, Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel had identified the significant issues with temporary accommodation and housing generally in London. It was explained that the review would analyse key pressures, which included many areas that were outside of the Council’s remit, and would be resolved by national government, but did note that there were areas where the Council could improve its duty of care, and outreach to harder to reach communities.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, and Deputy Leader of the Council responded to the recommendations within the report.

The Cabinet Member noted the work of the Housing, Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel, and gave special thanks to the Council officers and external witnesses who gave up their time and energy to participate in the evidence-gathering sessions.

It was noted that, with around 50% of homelessness temporary accommodation placements having been made in areas outside of the Borough, the Council needed to have a fair, consistent and transparent way of making decisions about who would be prioritised for local accommodation that was available. This was achieved through the Council’s TA Placement Policy and Private Rented Sector Policy; however, both policies were more than seven years old and overdue for review.

The average time households had been occupying temporary accommodation as of August 2025 was approximately 6.5 years, and this figure was longer for those requiring larger-sized family accommodation. Given the acknowledged impact on families occupying TA, ensuring adequate support for families living in and moving out of TA, particularly where this involved accommodation further from the Borough, was a priority for the Council.

It was explained that many of the Housing, Planning and Development Scrutiny Panel’s recommendations could help shape the proposed new TA Placement and Private Rented Sector Policies, with particular focus on how the impact on families could be minimised. It was noted that all recommendations proposed had either been agreed or partially agreed.