Issue - meetings

Drawdown on the Homeless Contingency Needs Grant

Meeting: 02/12/2015 - Executive (Item 304)

304 DRAW-DOWN ON THE HOMELESS CONTINGENCY NEEDS GRANT pdf icon PDF 348 KB

Minutes:

Report CS15938

 

Members received an update on homelessness pressures, mitigating actions, and initiatives to reduce rising budget pressures. Report CS15938 also outlined the likely budget impact going forward.

 

To help offset temporary accommodation pressures, approval was sought for £649k to be released from the central contingency set aside for homelessness and welfare reform pressures.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

(1)  from the central contingency set aside for homelessness and welfare reform pressures a sum of £649k be released; and

 

(2)   the current pressures being faced, mitigating actions underway and the likely budget impact going forward be noted.

 


Meeting: 17/11/2015 - Adult Care and Health Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee (Item 45)

45 DRAWDOWN ON THE HOMELESS CONTINGENCY NEEDS GRANT pdf icon PDF 349 KB

Minutes:

Report CS15938

 

The Committee received an update on homelessness pressures during 2015 and the range of initiatives being undertaken to try and reduce the rising budget pressures wherever possible. It was proposed that the Executive would be requested to approve drawdown of the £649k held in central contingency for homelessness and welfare reform pressures.

 

A Member commented that modelling the expected levels of homelessness was very difficult, and increasing need was leading to budget pressures year after year.

 

Officers were working hard to ensure that people were supported at an early stage, and made aware of the potential impact of welfare reform and the services available. This included working with other agencies such as GPs. The Council was also working with private landlords to reach those in private rented accommodation.   

 

A risk assessment was carried out for each placement and those with high needs and requirements for local support and local schools were given priority. Responding to a query about how the Council ensured that properties were to the required standard, it was confirmed that although there was not the capacity to check each individual property the standards expected were made clear to landlords, sample inspections were carried out and officers worked across London to identify unscrupulous landlords. It was suggested that a summary of the standards should be circulated to Members.  

 

RESOLVED that the content of the report be noted and the Executive be recommended to release £649k of the contingency set aside to offset the current temporary accommodation budget pressures being experienced.