Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Member:-

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 7 – Homelessness Pressures

Councillor Ameet Jogia declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he lived in a Council flat purchased under the Right to Buy scheme.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Agenda Item 8 – Welfare Reform Scrutiny Review Group – Report and Recommendations for Consideration

Councillor Lynda Seymour declared a non-pecuniary interest in that her son was in receipt of Disability Living Allowance.  She would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

That the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 19 April 2016 and the special meeting held on 19 May 2016 be taken as read and signed as correct records.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 19 April 2016 and the special meeting on 19 May 2016 be taken as read and signed as correct records.

To receive any public questions received in accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 17 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

Questions will be asked in the order notice of them was received and there be a time limit of 15 minutes.

[The deadline for receipt of public questions is 3.00 pm, Friday 3 June 2016.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk  

No person may submit more than one question].

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions or petitions were received at this meeting.

There were none.

Report of the Divisional Director - Strategic Commissioning.

The Committee considered a report which set out the findings and recommendations of the Welfare Reform Scrutiny Review Group which met between August 2015 and March 2016.  The Group focused on the areas of the Benefit Cap and low pay.

A Member of the Committee who was also a Member of the Review Group commented that the recommendations had been agreed on a cross-party basis.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Cabinet)

That the Scrutiny Review’s report and recommendations be forwarded on to Cabinet for consideration.

Report of the Divisional Director of Strategic Commissioning.

The Committee considered a report which set out the findings and recommendations from the Social and Community Infrastructure Scrutiny Review, the review examined the general ‘soft’ infrastructure provision that helped community formation from new and expanded residential development and sought to then identify specific provision that would be appropriate.

A Member of the Committee who was also a Member of the Review Group commented that site visits had been conducted as part of the Review.  A key feedback point was that existing land and resources had to be developed.

Another Member commented that it was important to use materials which were of good quality especially in relation to buildings resulting from regeneration proposals.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Cabinet)

That the Scrutiny Review’s report and recommendations be forwarded on to Cabinet for consideration.

Report of the Divisional Director of Housing.

The Committee received a report which set out the background to the acute homelessness pressures being experienced in Harrow at present and demonstrated the work being done across the Council to manage and mitigate the impacts on the homeless households and on the Council’s budgetary situation.

The Committee welcomed the Portfolio Holder for Housing to the meeting for this item.

Officers conducted a presentation for the Committee and made the following points:

·                     there had recently been a challenge panel which had looked at the issue of homelessness and identify actions which could mitigate the pressures.  This had involved conducting research, receiving expert advice and consultation;

·                     an action plan was being developed from the Challenge Panel meeting;

·                     a round table meeting would reconvene in June 2016 to review the progress on this action plan;

·                     if the Council had accepted that someone was homeless under the relevant statutory definition, it was obliged to find a permanent housing solution;

·                     there had been a significant increase in the number of people who were homeless in the borough throughout the last couple of years;

·                     the difficulty that the Council had was that a number of people who were homeless were being placed in temporary accommodation.  The Council had a shortage of self contained accommodation;

·                     Bed and Breakfast establishments were used as temporary accommodation which was unsatisfactory as they were costly;

·                     there were a number of reasons why homelessness was on the increase.  Part of this was because of the changes to Housing Benefits which had meant in its reduction financially at the same time that the rents within the private rental sector had been increasing.  This obviously left a funding shortfall;

·                     the Council were actively trying to prevent people from becoming homeless.  For example a number of people were becoming homeless because of an increase in rents within the private rented sector.  The Council were working with landlords to provide measures such as grants for disrepair to prevent tenants from being evicted;

·                     the Council were utilising the option of moving families outside of Harrow and London to utilise accommodation which had more cost effective rental charges;

·                     the Council also offered rent advances and deposits to ensure that they could either remain in their current property or move into a new one to prevent homelessness;

·                     the Council undertook a detailed homelessness assessment process and reached a conclusion accordingly.  These decisions could be appealed and usually per year there were about 120 appeals.  Of these around two-thirds were upheld and a third involved the Council changing its mid due to new information provided;

·                     the Council operated a service called Help2Let.  This was a social housing lettings agency.  This was a service which charged Landlords for services and a supply of tenants.  This was a successful service as it was a local service for local landlords;

·                     a key challenge with homelessness was getting those individuals and families affected to have realistic expectations.  Approximately half of all families becoming homeless would have to be based outside London.  The Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 162.

Report of the Divisional Director of Strategic Commissioning.

The Committee received a report which contained a proposed work programme for 2016/17.

Members made comments as follows:

·                     Item 6 – Smoking Cessation Number Quitting – the column on ‘why’ required re-drafting;

·                     Item 35 – Family / Community Services for Asylum Seekers – the column on ‘why’ required re-drafting to read ‘what is the Council doing to ensure it is aware of hard to reach communities and best support and meet their needs’.

·                     Item 38 – Child Poverty – the column on ‘why’ required the following words added at the end ‘and how it was evolving’.

RESOLVED:  That the work programme for the Committee be agreed subject to the amendments listed above.