Decision details

SERVICE AREA:

Operations and Neighbourhoods Directorate

SUBJECT MATTER:

PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY 2018-21

DECISION:

That the updated Preventing Homelessness Strategy for 2018-2021 be approved.

DECISION TAKER(S):

Executive Cabinet

DATE OF DECISION:

12 December 2018

REASON FOR DECISION:

The new Tameside MBC draft Preventing Homelessness Strategy aims to bring about a borough wide cultural change in the Council’s approach to tackling and preventing homelessness in Tameside.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS REJECTED (if any):

No alternatives were considered The Homelessness Act 2002 requires all housing authorities to adopt a homelessness strategy based on a review of all forms of homelessness in their district.  The report detailed responses to the extensive consultation undertaken in drafting the Policy.

CONSULTEES:

The submitted report set out the extensive consultation undertaken with the public and strategic stakeholders..

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

(Authorised by Section 151 Officer)

There are no direct financial implications as a result of this report. Implementing the Strategy may incur costs which will be met from the existing Service budget.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS:

(Authorised by Borough Solicitor)

The Homelessness Act 2002 introduced a requirement for local authorities to undertake a review of homelessness, including consultation, and to use the results of the review to inform a homelessness strategy. Local authorities must publish their homelessness strategy periodically, but not longer than once every 5 years. Within a complex legal framework, the Council delivers services to people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. This framework sets out duties it must perform and powers it can exercise with discretion. The Housing Act 1996, Part 7 has been amended over the years, but remains the primary legislation prescribing how local authorities should deliver services, and what duties they must owe to homeless persons. The Housing Act 1996, Part 7 has most recently been amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and provides fundamental amendments to the existing homelessness legislation. It introduces new requirements to “prevent” and “relieve” homelessness and in that context, sets out a range of new duties.

The Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA) 2017 came into effect on 3 April 2018 and was intended to transform the way Local Housing Authority (LHA) services are provided to homeless people. The Act is arguably the biggest change in homelessness legislation since 19771. It not only imposes a duty to prevent and relieve homelessness, but it provides opportunities for culture and systems change. The HRA effectively bolts two new duties to the original statutory rehousing duty: the duty to prevent homelessness, and the duty to relieve homelessness. New provisions introduced by the HRA include:

• Duty to prevent and relieve homelessness

• Requirement to carry out an assessment and personalised

housing plan

• Public bodies now have a duty to refer people whom they

know are threatened with homelessness

• Applicants have the right to ask for a review of any points of

the new legislation

It is anticipated that the Preventing Homelessness Strategy will have a positive impact upon the protected groups. However, this needs to be monitored to ensure that any particular group is not disadvantaged in a particular way given the general vulnerability of this sector of the community.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

There were no declarations of interest.

DISPENSATION GRANTED BY STANDARDS COMMITTEE ATTACHED:

Not applicable.

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS:

The background papers relating to this report can be inspected by contacting the report author,:

Telephone:0161 342 3337

e-mail: emma.varnam@tameside.gov.uk