Decision details

Consideration was given to the new Policy (attached at Annex 1) setting out the principles to be used when charging rent for Temporary Accommodation.

The Policy would apply to all temporary accommodation provided by the Borough Council in connection to discharging a homelessness function or to prevent a person from becoming homeless.  It also aimed to ensure that government legislation was adhered to when setting rents, that rents were fair and affordable and, where appropriate, set in line with regulatory or statutory guidance and that all information was set out in a clean and transparent way.

Cabinet had due regard to the financial and value for money considerations, legal implications and noted that the proposed Policy sought to maximise the Borough Council’s income from Housing Benefit subsidy, ensuring that the rental charge for each type of accommodation reflected the correct principles for the amount of subsidy that could be claimed in each case.  It was also noted that the proposed Policy set out a rental level with regard to Housing Benefit subsidy regulations, ensuring that subsidy could be correctly and lawfully claimed where appropriate.

Cllr Tanner proposed, Cllr Boughton seconded and Cabinet

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the new Temporary Accommodation charging policy (attached at Annex 1) be approved with effect from 1 April 2025.