Agenda item

That the contents of the report, ahead of the follow up audit work to be completed by the Councils Audit Team, be noted.

The Service Manager – Housing & Prevention introduced the report which provided an update on progress with the Temporary Accommodation Audit Action Plan. 

The audit was presented to the Committee in February 2022 and the Audit Committee in March 2022 and was categorised as a red audit report and highlighted areas of improvement.  An action plan was developed in response to the internal audit and the Council’s Audit Team would be commencing a follow up review of the service to assess progress against the action plan.

The Service Manager – Housing & Prevention advised that a detailed service improvement plan was developed to pick up on all the actions required to deliver on the audit recommendation with a stronger focus placed on the core principles of housing management, support for those in interim housing and move on options in line with the principles of Rapid Rehousing.

A copy of the audit action plan as updated at the end of September 2023, was attached at Appendix 1 of the report.  Whilst progress had been made on all actions, there had been significant challenges impacting on the delivery of the action plan, with some completions dated being pushed back.  The reasons for this were listed within the resource section of the report but all actions would be completed by March 2024.

The Service Manager – Housing & Prevention advised that Senior management had met with the Council’s Internal Audit Team in recent weeks and those actions that were completed would soon be tested and evidence of completion reviewed.  The Committee would continue to receive further updates.  

Councillor David Evans referenced how he felt that the issues faced with people presenting to homelessness linked to void properties, which would be considered later in the meeting.  He referred to the number of households in comparison to the number of void properties and whilst acknowledging that this may be a simplistic view asked how many of the people currently placed in temporary accommodation had been allocated a void property.  The Service Manager – Housing & Prevention said that he estimated this to be around 30/35 but would provide the exact figure to the Committee following the meeting.  He referred to the work that had been carried out by the Service Manager – Housing Assets in bringing void properties back into use which had seen positive results, but it was important to also consider whether they were the right type of property for the person in temporary accommodation.  He reported that 183 of these people were single, with a significant number under the age of 55 and that the majority of void properties were sheltered accommodation.  The options to ease the budget pressures around homelessness, to be presented to the Committee at the next meeting would include the review of sheltered housing, but this wouldn’t alleviate all of the pressures.  The Council wanted to create stable, sustainable communities with all residents suitably housed and feel safe in their communities. 

The Chair asked if the high rise flats in Flint would be included as part of the sheltered housing review.  The Chief Officer (Housing and Communities) confirmed that all schemes across Flintshire would be included in the review.

Councillor Linda Thew spoke in support of the comments made by Councillor Evans.  She commented on the number of landlords leaving the market due to the volatility of the market and rising cost of mortgages.  She also commented on the landlords not being registered with Rent Smart Wales and thanked the Service Manager for his assistance in a recent case within her ward.  She asked what action was taken where the Council was aware that a private landlord was not registered with Rent Smart Wales and whether the introduction of a rogue landlords task force, considered at a recent Council meeting would assist with this and would it be cost neutral.

The Service Manager – Housing & Prevention provide an explanation of how the team worked with local landlords across Flintshire, including the undertaking of a suitability and discharge assessment.  He explained that where the Council lease accommodation, it takes on the role of the landlord and where accommodation was used as temporary accommodation, the Council always check to ensure the property is registered with Rent Smart Wales.  In relation to tackling rogue landlords, this function sat within the remit of the Public Protection Service who were the enforcing body around poor conduct of housing management within the private sector. 

Councillor Ted Palmer commented on the pending sheltered housing review and said that not all integration had been successful and had led to instances of anti-social behaviour due to the different age brackets.  He asked that this be taken into account when carrying out the sheltered accommodation review.  The Chair supported Councillor Palmer’s comments and said that they would be taken on board as part of the work of the Sheltered Housing Review Task & Finish Group.

The recommendation, as outlined within the report, was moved by Councillor Ted Palmer and seconded by Councillor Kevin Rush.

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the report, ahead of the follow up audit work to be completed by the Councils Audit Team, be noted.