The Head of Housing and Communities introduced the report which gave an update on the Temporary Accommodation budget situation in Swale, following on from the last update in September 2023. She said an overspend of approximately £160k was expected and recent weeks had been exceptionally busy so that figure could rise. 

The Head of Housing and Communities said work that had been carried out over the previous six months, around processing clients and helping them to move on as well as being firm around eligibility of criteria had stabilised the spend. She highlighted some key pieces of work that had progressed significantly over the past six months including subsidy lobbying.  The Head of Housing and Community said the Leader and other members had lobbied Government to increase the temporary accommodation funding currently still linked to 2011 LHA rates of which Council’s could only claim 90%, so far without success.

Drawing attention to paragraph 2.9 in the report which set out the gap in the costs of temporary accommodation and the subsidy received, the Head of Housing and Communities highlighted the significant increase in costs since 2018.  She referred to the data collection exercise carried out by the District Councils Network which included information that SBC temporary accommodation costs were one of the highest in the South east.  She said many Councils, including SBC, had been trying to raise the profile of temporary accommodation and there had been recent media enquiries

Referring to the Accommodation Strategy, the Head of Housing and Communities explained that currently much of the accommodation was provided through nightly let arrangements and purchase arrangements which were costly.  She said the programme to purchase accommodation had so far resulted in the completion of two properties which were now occupied, with another 25 properties under offer. The Head of Housing and Communities explained there were sometimes issues with one or two bedroom properties as they were often leasehold flats and the management companies sometimes did not allow their use as temporary accommodation.  She said decommissioned supported arrangement properties were currently being considered.

The Head of Housing and Communities said there had been improvements to their phone lines and a self-serve option on the website was being introduced.  She added that three additional staff had also been employed.

Finally, the Head of Housing and Communities said there were currently 311 families in temporary accommodation, down from the peak of 420.

The Chair praised staff for their excellent work and said it was a good report.

Members were invited to make comments, which included:

·         Funding cuts to Porchlight would have an impact;

·         suggested looking at properties in Leysdown for a quick and economic purchase;

·         highlighted the closure of Bridge House, Sheerness and Johnson House, Sittingbourne;

·         work carried out so far has been good, but SBC did not have the resource to achieve what was necessary;

·         made suggestions on how SBC encouraged Housing Associations to spend money in Swale;

·         could SBC purchase empty Housing Association properties and bring them up to date?;

·         praised the hard work of the team in achieving lower costs than expected;

·         the situation was bleak, the system did not work and had not for a long time;

·         suggested writing to MP’s setting out how unsustainable the situation was;

·         lack of national investment would push Local Authorities to bankruptcy; and

·         should not wait until disaster hit before acting;

In response the Head of Housing and Communities said Porchlight only had funding until March 2025.  She said all properties could be considered but Leysdown had poor transport links.  Referring to the purchase of Housing Association properties, she said that SBC were notified when properties were being disposed of, but they often needed substantial work and it was not always cost effective and took time.

The Head of Housing and Communities said more effective ways of lobbying Government were being looked at and some other authorities were looking at calling for a Housing Emergency. She suggested lobbying locally with MP’s and seeking the support of wider stakeholders as the focus up to now had been on what could be controlled internally.

A Councillor pointed out the income Government would receive from income tax from workers and construction, and savings to the NHS and from homelessness by investing in social housing.

Councillor Hannah Perkin proposed that the Committee recommends that the Council declares a social housing emergency in Swale.  This was seconded by Councillor Tom Nundy and on being put to the vote the Committee agreed.

Resolved

(1)   That the current controls in place to manage the Temporary   Accommodation budget be noted.

(2)   That the Council declares a social housing Emergency in Swale.