Agenda and minutes

Members of the committee should declare any interests which fall under the following categories*:

a)    disclosable pecuniary interests (DPI);

b)    other significant interests (OSI);

c)     voluntary announcements of other interests.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider and approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meetings held on 11 and 20 July 2017.

The minutes of the meetings held on 11 and 20 July 2017 were submitted, approved and signed by the Chairman.

Report OS/17/04 details the proposed changes to homelessness legislation and includes an overview of the implications and risks of these proposed changes to the Council.

Report OS/17/04 details the proposed changes to homelessness

legislation and includes an overview of the implications and risks of these

proposed changes to the Council.

Sarah Robson, Head of Communities presented members with a presentation on the changes proposed to the homelessness legislation, which requires several new duties, many of which will require a change in working practices and additional resources. A copy of this is attached for information.

The HRA introduces requirements for local housing authorities to carry out homelessness prevention work with all those who are eligible for help and threatened with homelessness.  The main changes are listed in the attached papers which indicates the new duties the council will need to undertake.

Particular attention was paid to the following:

·         Increase to the period during which a local housing authority (LHA) should treat someone as threatened with homelessness from 28 to 56 days.

·         Duty owed to those who are homeless, placing a duty on LHAs to relieve homeless for 56 days by helping applicants to secure accommodation regardless of priority need.

·         Local impact – significant increase in officer caseloads by at least 50%.This will be something that will have to be picked up with additional staff being employed to help cover the work.

It is hoped that with changes to processes and procedures, together with using the ‘Locata’ housing system already in place more smartly and effectively, there will only be a need to employ 4/5 additional staff. However, this will need to be reviewed next year once the new legislation comes into place in April 2018.

·         Out of area: London placements – an area members were particularly concerned with and why Kent has a high number of London placements. London authorities receive more housing allowance for housing, which can make them attractive to landlords outside the London area. Members suggested that there is existing legislation requiring councils to inform of placements in writing.

Because of this it was agreed that Councillor Gane, as Chairman of the Committee puts a motion to full Council to ask that a letter is sent to the government minister for housing to address this as a matter of urgency.

·         Additional funding from central government has been confirmed for the next 2 years, with the hope that a third year will also be given. Some of the funding will being used for additional staffing roles and prevention work.

·         Housing and Health is an ongoing issue. GPs have stated that the vast majority of their cases are non-medical and could be dealt with by other routes in the community. Housing is often a key issue and officers are working with GP’s to deal with these issues. The council have a number of newly funded roles that are looking at wider support for families and ways to prevent homelessness in the first place.

Proposed by Councillor Peter Gane

Seconded by Councillor Ms Susan Carey and

Resolved:

1.                    To receive and note Report OS/17/04.

2.                    To receive an update report next year  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

Report OS/17/03 The Council has a statutory safeguarding role within the wider public sector, with responsibilities to children, young people and vulnerable adults. A review of safeguarding activity is presented with detail in Appendix 1. An updated safeguarding policy of the Council has been approved by CMT and will be considered by Cabinet on 13^th September 2017.

Report OS/17/03 The Council has a statutory safeguarding role within the

wider public sector, with responsibilities to children, young people and

vulnerable adults. A review of safeguarding activity is presented with detail

in Appendix 1. An updated safeguarding policy of the Council has been

approved by CMT and will be considered by Cabinet on 13th September

2017.

Jyotsna Leney, Community Services Manager informed members that the Council had recently updated its safeguarding policy which will be considered by Cabinet at their meeting on 13 September, this report provides an outline to the policy and provides members with an overview of the changes made.

The Council is required to have a designated officer to lead on safeguarding concerns with other staff having differing roles and abilities ranging from limited contact to full supervisory contact, leading to consultation with social services when required.

The annual report demonstrated that the Council is dealing with safeguarding concerns appropriately and that they are meeting legislative requirements around safeguarding issues.

Members welcomed the report and its implications but asked that more work and information is given in respect of issues surrounding ‘prevent’. Officers suggested that if members wished a number of speakers could be asked to attend a future meeting to inform the committee of the work that is being done and how it affects the district.

Proposed by Councillor Peter Gane

Seconded by Councillor Ian Meyers and

Resolved:

1.         To receive and note Report OS/17/03.

2.         To receive and note the annual report on activity demonstrating how the council is meeting its obligations to safeguard children and vulnerable adults.

3.         To note that the Council has been successfully awarded full compliance on the s11 self – assessment audited by the Kent Safeguarding Children’s Board.

4.         To receive a further report on ‘prevent’ and the effects in the district.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Proposed by Councillor Peter Gane

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Claire Jeffrey and

Resolved:

To exclude the public for the following item of business on the grounds that it is likely to disclose exempt information, as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 –

‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). ‘Financial or business affairs’ includes contemplated as well as current activities’.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Outline planning permission was granted last year for 4 large dwellings on this Council owned site. Report C/17/33 comprises an options appraisal to assess how best to meet Council objectives and maximise value for money from the asset.

Outline planning permission was granted last year for 4 large dwellings on

this Council owned site. Report C/17/33 comprises an options appraisal to

assess how best to meet Council objectives and maximise value for money

from the asset.

Andy Jarrett, Head of Strategic Development Projects informed members that planning permission had been granted in 2016.Officers have been working on a number of options to try and achieve a better return on the site. These options are listed in the report. The conclusion was that option 1 - development and holiday lets, as the preferred option.

A number of concerns were raised by members below:

·         Homelessness – having received the previous report it was suggested that perhaps the site could be used for additional housing needs.

·         Officer time – are resources in place to manage the site build and rental options?

·         Selling the site – it was suggested that the option to sell the site would be preferable, receiving the income now rather than over a number of years.

Because of the concerns raised the recommendations are set out for Cabinet to review.

Proposed by Councillor Ms Susan Carey

Seconded by Councillor Peter Gane and

Resolved:

1.         To receive and note report C/17/33.

2.         To go for sale of undeveloped land (possibly self builds) as the preferred option of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to secure the money now rather than risk of holiday rentals.

(Voting: For 4; Against 2; Abstentions 1;