| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| MATTERS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE CABINET | ||
| SH 07/033 |
Future Delivery of Homelessness and Housing Register Services and Proposals for Strengthening the Council's Strategy and Enabling Role |
The Director of Health and Housing updated Members on discussions with Russet Homes over the delivery of homelessness and housing register services, currently provided under contract, and made the case for enhancing the Council's housing strategy and enabling function. The Director of Health and Housing announced the successful recruitment of a Housing Needs and Strategy Manager who would be in post by July and vital in taking this project forward. It was hoped that the service would return in-house before the contract expired in March 2008. It was emphasised that a cost effective service could be provided by the Council, delivering an innovative range of options with a preventative approach being adopted. It was anticipated that better management of dealing with homelessness by earlier intervention would result in the provision of an efficient, effective and quality driven service. The Director of Health and Housing explained that a full staffing structure would be outlined at a future meeting of the Advisory Board. Members acknowledged the likelihood of cost growth in the short term but welcomed the return of the service in-house. The Board agreed that it would be beneficial to have an extended 'hand over' period before the end of the contract with the aim of achieving an end date of 31 December 2007. RECOMMENDED: That (1) the arrangements for securing the effective discharge of the homeless investigation and housing register functions following expiry of the existing contract with Russet Homes be noted and endorsed with a view to achieving an end date of 31 December 2007; and (2) the strengthening of the housing strategy and enabling service be endorsed for the reasons set out in the report of the Director of Health and Housing, subject to the General Purposes Committee's concurrence with the staffing implications arising therefrom. *Referred to Cabinet |