Issue - meetings

Report FSD23050

The report provided the second revenue budget monitoring position for 2023/24 for the Renewal, Recreation and Housing Portfolio based on expenditure and activity levels for Quarter 1 of the 2023/24 financial year.

In response to a question from a Co-opted Member, the Head of Finance (Adult Social Care, Health and Housing) confirmed that a Homelessness Reduction Grant totalling £89k had been carried forward from the 2022/23 financial year and would fund work preventing and relieving homelessness for young people.  A Member asked whether people who had previously been rough sleepers were placed in Houses of Multiple Occupancy and the Assistant Director: Housing explained that a full range of housing options were used by the Local Authority. Every accommodation placement was underpinned by a robust due diligence process to ensure that placements were appropriate and that the individual support needs of the tenant were being met.

A Member noted the current average cost of £8,268 per household per annum of temporary accommodation and queried the level of savings that could be generated from moving households into permanent housing.  The Head of Finance (Adult Social Care, Health and Housing) clarified that the level of savings varied across placements as permanent housing had its own cost implications, including ongoing maintenance costs.  A Member asked whether there was any guidance for Members on borrowing to fund new housing schemes and was advised that the viability of borrowing to fund housing schemes was considered on a scheme-by-scheme basis.  The Portfolio Holder further reported that consideration was being given to the viability of seeking external funding for new housing schemes moving forward where appropriate. 

RESOLVED: That the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

·  Note the projected net overspend of £2,479k on controllable expenditure based on information as at December 2022; and,

·  Agree the release of amounts carried forward from the 2022/23 as set out in Section 3.5 to Report FSD23050.