Issue - meetings

This report looks at the activity governed by the Housing Act 1996, the Homelessness Act 2002 and the City of York Council’s Homelessness Strategy 2013-2018 in respect of the financial year 2015/16.  The primary focus is to report on prevention work, the trends of statutory homelessness and rough sleeper. It also identifies targets and priorities for 2016/17.

Resolved:

i.     That the report be noted.

ii.    That the priorities and targets for 2016/17, as set out in paragraph 16 of the report, be agreed.

Reason: To ensure the council continues to meet its statutory responsibilities and supports the most vulnerable in society.

The Executive Leader considered a report that addressed the activity governed by the Housing Act 1996, the Homelessness Act 2002 and the City of York Council’s Homelessness Strategy 2013-2018 in respect of the financial year 2015/16. 

The Service Manager for Housing Options and Homelessness was in attendance to give an update and discuss the performance targets and priorities achieved for 2015/16 and the projects and priorities for 2016/17. The Executive Leader noted that:

·                630 homeless prevention cases were reported in 2015/16 which contributed to a reduction in statutory homeless from 103 to 91.

·                The target for reducing number of households placed in temporary accommodation for 2015/16 was 62 but the actual outturn achieved was 53.

The Executive Leader agreed the targets and priorities for 2016/17 which included continued:

·        work with the Community Safety Hub to reduce the number of rough sleepers and to tackle street drinking and begging.

·        exploration/work with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust to provide appropriate housing, housing support and hospital discharge process for people with mental health issues.

·        work to achieve the Gold Standard Challenge.

Resolved:

i.     That the report be noted.

ii.     That the priorities and targets for 2016/17, as set out in paragraph 16 of the report, be agreed.

Reason: To ensure the council continues to meet its statutory responsibilities and supports the most vulnerable in society.