Agenda and minutes

Councillors C. Reeks and J. Reynolds

Cabinet Members J Clarke (Strategic Housing, Planning and Regulation) and L. Lacey (Infrastructure and Assets), Silvia Gonzalez-Lopez (Head of Environment and Public Protection)

The Chair noted his interest in the Housing and Communities Service Plan due to his employment in this field.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were held as a true and accurate record.

Housing and Communities

Invitees:

-       Paul Jones – Strategic Director – Environment and Sustainability

-       David Walton – Head of Housing and Communities

The Strategic Director and Head of Housing and Communities gave an overview of the report.

The Committee asked the following:

• The Committee asked about the number of refugees taken in by Newport. The Head of Housing and Communities explained that Newport is a dispersal area for asylum seekers as determined by the Home Office, and the recent changes in asylum decision-making could create additional pressure. However, it was difficult to provide comparative figures due to limited data.

• The Committee enquired about the number of people on the homelessness temporary housing waiting list. The Head of Housing and Communities estimated the figure to be around 470 but agreed to provide the exact number later.
• The Committee requested an update on the progress of bringing empty properties back into use. The Head of Housing and Communities reported an improvement in performance, particularly in privately-owned properties, and expressed confidence in meeting the target for this year. Collaboration with Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) and the utilisation of funding programmes like the Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme (TACP) were highlighted.
• The Committee sought information on alternative arrangements for rough sleepers who were previously housed in Newport Leisure Centre. The Head of Housing and Communities stated that the arrangements were being finalised and would be shared soon.
• The Committee asked about targeting landlords with new tax premiums mentioned in the report. The Head of Housing and Communities agreed to provide further information to the Committee.
• The Committee enquired about the progress of the housing bidding scheme. The Head of Housing and Communities emphasised that all individuals on the housing list were being considered for all types of social housing. The supply of properties currently exceeds demand, and the focus is on prioritising those with the highest need through collaborative efforts with the Council's partners.
• The Committee questioned the process for individuals in social housing to move into a smaller property. The Head of Housing and Communities explained that the department works with RSL partners to accommodate these requests, and individual Members could discuss specific cases with officers outside the Committee.
• The Committee asked about the government policy obligating local authorities to rehouse individuals previously ineligible for housing assistance. The Head of Housing and Communities clarified that the focus was on people experiencing homelessness and highlighted the additional costs associated with providing suitable accommodation and housing benefit subsidy. While additional funding had been provided, it did not fully cover the increased costs.
• The Committee questioned the effectiveness of support services in helping individuals transition out of homelessness. The Head of Housing and Communities highlighted ongoing efforts to improve services and address underlying issues through collaboration with partner organisations.
• The Committee acknowledged the progress made by the Rough Sleepers Task Force and asked if it was due to new initiatives. The Head of Housing and Communities stated that the task force focused on understanding and supporting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

a)      Forward Work Programme Update (Appendix 1)

b)      Actions Plan (Appendix 2)

Invitees:

• Neil Barnett – Scrutiny Adviser

a)    Forward Work Programme Update

The Scrutiny Adviser presented the Forward Work Programme, and informed the Committee of the topics due to be discussed at the next two committee meetings:

Monday 11^th December 2023, the agenda item;

• 2023/24 Service Plan Mid-Year Reports

o   Finance

o   Law and Standards

o   People, Policy and Transformation

o   Regeneration and Economic Development

Monday 15^th January 2024, the agenda item;

·         2024-25 Draft Budget Proposals and Medium Term Financial Plan

It was advised that the date for the Draft Budget Proposals would be finalised soon, and the Committee would be sent a calendar invitation for the meeting.

Councillor Cleverly gave her apologies for the December meeting.

a)    Action Sheet

The Scrutiny Adviser presented the action sheet to the Committee and advised all actions were up to date.