Purpose

This report presents a coordinated and
strategic response, structured around four key objectives:
 
1.  Slowing demand
through strengthened early intervention and prevention, aligned
with the Homelessness Reduction Act;
2.  Accelerating housing
duty discharges by expanding access to the Private Rented Sector,
improving casework efficiency, and deepening partnerships with
Registered Providers and placement services;
3.  Reducing costs via
direct acquisitions, long-term leasing, revised placement policies,
and increased use of affordable, lawful out-of-borough options;
4.  Increasing income by
restructuring leases to improve housing benefit subsidy recovery
and maximising the potential of our wholly owned housing
company

Decision

For the reasons set out in this report and its
appendices, Cabinet RESOLVED to Agree:
 

i) 
To approve the proposed approach outlined in section 4 of the
report which seeks to increase the scale of mitigation measures to
reduce expenditure on temporary accommodation and reduce the number
of households in temporary accommodation.

ii) 
To approve the revised Housing Placement Policy set out in the
draft policy at Appendix 1.

iii) 
To approve up to £1.7m in additional resources to enable the
delivery of the enhanced Homelessness Response Programme as set out
in section 4, with further detail in Appendix 3 - Financial
Analysis (Exempt).

iv) 
To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Inclusive
Economy & Housing in consultation with the Lead Member for
Community Safety, Housing Need, Homelessness & Private Rented
Sector to finalise and implement the revised Housing Placement
Policy.

v) 
Cabinet is asked to approve the initiation of a comprehensive
review of the Council’s Social Housing Allocations Policy.
The purpose of this review is to propose updates to the Policy to
reflect evolving housing needs and improve clarity for applicants.
Any proposed amendments will be submitted for consideration at a
future Cabinet meeting.

 

vi) 
To note the intention to conduct an extensive programme of review
of all households in TA, with the aim of instigating an extensive
resettlement programme where and when appropriate.

vii) 
To note that further updates and reports will be presented to
Cabinet in respect of the overall approach and any specific
transactions or arrangements requiring approval to progress.
 
Alternatives
considered
 

a) 
Do nothing – the Council has a duty to ensure Best Value for
public money through continual transformation and transparency and
so ‘do nothing’ is not an option.

b) 
The Council could continue with short-term lease arrangements;
however, it would not benefit from the increase in cost recovery
compared to longer term lease arrangements.

c) 
The amendments to the TA housing policy support strategic
objectives to increase the rate households are resettled out of TA
and thus reducing TA numbers. Housing supply in Newham is severely
limited and if the changes are not made, it will make it harder for
Newham to prioritize those with a genuine need to remain in the
borough, potentially risking the Council’s reputation for
making balanced and transparent decisions.