The Officer presented the report and highlighted the following areas:

•           The Housing Strategy had been split into three core priorities – Raising the Bar, In on the Ground and Looking Ahead

•           SMART metres had been installed on three traveller’s sites in Thurrock so that rent, rent arrears and service charges could be paid in an effective way

•           Housing Enforcement had been adopted as a robust approach to anti-social behaviour and developed a prevention, intervention and enforcement (PIE) model

•           Housing advice training had been delivered to volunteers

•           Housing Options continued to work with the national Gold Standard

•           Housing staff currently being trained on safeguarding

•           New Development at Bruyns Court has been completed with 25 new units of sheltered accommodation

•           Housing Zone status has been awarded with capacity funding secured

•           Homelessness forum had been undertaken with partners of all specialism attending

•           Dedicated Housing and Welfare Advice Officer had been recruited

•           Tenants accreditation scheme has been set up with over 100 residents taking part

•           Housing first programme has been set to address housing issues of people with very complex needs

•           Right Size Programme to identify under occupation across all tenures

•           Private Sector Team who engage with landlords of empty private properties but the Council have no legal rights to empty properties

Councillor Liddiard thanked the Officer for the good report and stated that it was good that the Council were heading in the right direction but felt that a crisis was only just round the corner with changes to Government Policies. The Officer confirmed that there would be greater pressures and that this was recognised over different measures. Discussions on changing the statutory duty for homelessness prevention were taking place. This would have the effect of increasing councils’ responsibility to prevent homelessness.

Councillor Liddiard asked Officers if there were a need for more hostels in Thurrock. The Officer confirmed that the forms of temporary accommodation currently used fit the needs of the Council. If the use of hostels were used in the future this would need be business modelled very carefully as support would also need to be provided.

Councillor C Baker stated that some residents in private accommodation who were unable to afford rents have resulted in Section 21s being issued. The Officer confirmed that section 21s were now the main reason for homelessness in the borough.

The Landlord forum will be re-launched to listen to private landlords and take into account their views on what offer of rents they were expecting.

Councillor Ojetola thanked the Officer for the positive report but acknowledged that the figures for the number of landlords were still quite low and what incentives were out there to get landlords on board. The Officer stated that a large campaign was underway to ensure landlords were aware of the good quality of services available and that the Council may have to think more commercially to engage with landlords.

Councillor Ojetola stated that the Empty Property Tax Exemption should be re-addressed but Officers agreed this would be area for the Finance Team to look at.

RESOLVED

That the Housing Overview & Scrutiny Committee note and comment on the updates in this report.