HOUSING COMMITTEE

Agenda Item 23 (b) Brighton & Hove City Council

Subject:                               Councillor Questions  

Date of Meeting:                   22 September 2021

Report of:                               Executive Lead Officer for Strategy, Governance & Law

Contact Officer: Name:      Shaun Hughes                             Tel: 01273 293059

                                                  E-mail: shaun.hughes@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Wards Affected:                    All           

FOR GENERAL RELEASE

1. SUMMARY AND POLICY CONTEXT:

1.1 To receive any questions submitted to Democratic Services.

2.         RECOMMENDATIONS:

2.2 That the Committee responds to the questions.

2. QUESTIONS

a) When senior officers or managers of services for vulnerable people asked to work from home during Covid; were their positions considered for example, managing the services for our rough sleepers?  And how could they manage local services if working from home, especially if ‘home’ is say, in Scotland?

Kind regards

Councillor Meadows

b) I would like to know why it is taking so long to relet houses. I have 7 at least in my ward that have been empty for months and at least 1 has been empty for 2 years (that is what I know about) with the great deal of residents that are waiting for a home it is not acceptable

Regards

Councillor Barnett

c) Following the changes made by the Administration to Brighton and Hove City Councils Allocation Policy, which placed homeless people at the top of the priority list for council housing, we have seen many vulnerable clients being moved into Sheltered Housing in the city.

There have been some very serious issues that are now being experienced by residents and staff in our sheltered schemes.

Many homeless residents placed in sheltered housing under the administration’s priority policy have Drug, alcohol, and Mental health issues affecting their lives but are being allocated in to our sheltered blocks without 24 hour support.

This is having a very serious effect on other elderly and vulnerable residents living in sheltered blocks and our staff trying to deal with the problems.

1. What steps are the administration taking to address these serious issues and protect all residents of sheltered blocks.

2. What is the current waiting list for housing repairs at council properties in Brighton and Hove?

3. What is the current number of vacant council housing properties in Brighton and Hove, awaiting being let out to those on the housing list?

4. Through the Homeless Reduction Board, I have asked for a financial breakdown of money the Council has received from the Government for Homelessness and rough sleepers.

This is information is still outstanding despite having been requested multiple times.

a) Please can the above information be provided.

b) Can the Council confirm if the programme to provide accommodation to all homeless people in the city as has operated during the pandemic still stands or has now finished?

Councillor Mary Mears