Decision

To approve the temporary appointment of a Housing Advice Team Coordinator within the Housing Options Team until 31 March 2027, funded through existing salary savings arising from Advice, Triage and Register Team Leader secondment.
The proposed role will provide additional capacity and operational support to help manage current service pressures within Housing Options, while allowing the Council to review longer-term staffing arrangements once the outcome of Advice, Triage and Register Team Leader secondment is known.
The decision being sought is under Section 113 of the Local Government Act 1972 for South Holland District Council to agree to this arrangement which will enable a combined role covering the Partnership areas.

Reasons for the decision

The Housing Options Team is currently experiencing sustained service pressures arising from increased demand, complexity of cases, and the need to continue delivering statutory homelessness and housing advice functions effectively. The temporary introduction of a Housing Hub Coordinator will provide additional operational capacity and resilience to support service delivery, utilising existing salary budget savings created through Advice, Triage and Register Team Leader secondment to the NHS and without creating additional financial pressure on the Council.
The proposal is for a fixed-term arrangement until the end of the 2026/27 financial year, allowing the service to respond to immediate operational needs whilst maintaining flexibility pending any future decision regarding Advice, Triage and Register Team Leader substantive post.

Alternative options considered

Maintain the current staffing structure without additional resource. This option was considered; however, given the sustained demand on the Housing Options Team and increasing service pressures, it is likely to impact the team's ability to effectively manage workloads and maintain current levels of service delivery.
Recruit to a permanent post. This option was not recommended at this time due to the uncertainty surrounding the long-term staffing requirements of the service and the future outcome of Advice, Triage and Register Team Leader secondment. A temporary arrangement provides greater flexibility while these matters are resolved.
Engage agency or interim support. Whilst this could provide additional capacity, it is likely to be more costly and may not offer the same continuity, service knowledge, or value for money as appointing a fixed-term Housing Hub Coordinator.