Agenda item - Public Involvement

To consider the following matters raised by members of the public:

 

(a)       Petitions: to receive any petitions presented to the full council or at the meeting itself;

 

(b)       Written Questions: to receive any questions submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 11 January 2016;

 

(c)   Deputations: to receive any deputations submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 11 January 2016.

 

 

              ETHRAG Deputation

 

(1)  That officers arrange a meeting between ETHRAG and partnerships in the city and report back to the Committee on the findings. . 

Petitions

 

52.1     There were none.

 

Questions

 

52.2     Sheona Nicoll asked the following question:

 

“Can you please help us understand how the allocations procedure works when placing vulnerable people in unsupported temporary accommodation in Brighton and Hove, and what, if any, safeguarding policies are in place?”

 

52.3     The Chair replied as follows: 

       

“When a household becomes homeless and we have a housing duty towards them, then initially it depends upon what accommodation is available at that time. We do not hold properties vacant in anticipation. When a household is referred for accommodation, a risk assessment is also undertaken and where appropriate, referrals are made to Adult Social Care or other support providers. Households are also provided with information about support that they can self refer to. Households who present too great a risk to be managed in general needs accommodation are referred to Adult Social Care.

 

As soon as accommodation that we contract is available, there are several considerations that we take into account when allocating as follows:

 

Regard is had to the “Temporary Accommodation Allocation Policy” which relates to households who have been placed outside of the city who may have a priority to be moved back to the city.

 

Pregnant women and households with dependent children have to be provided with accommodation that does not have shared facilities within 6 weeks, under statute.

 

Regard is also had to households we may have to transfer urgently from one unit to another for example if they are being evicted due to behaviour that is due to mental health needs.

 

The suitability of the unit of accommodation that is available (for example, is it the right size and does it meet mobility needs).

 

For those households to whom we have a statutory housing duty, we have to comply with the legislation regarding ‘suitability’ and households can request a formal review of this if they are not satisfied. They will then be moved to alternative accommodation if this is upheld and these moves also need to be factored in when allocating accommodation.

 

Consideration is also given to the length of time households are waiting.

 

The same considerations are given when longer term temporary accommodation becomes available.

 

In terms of safeguarding – the Local Authority has safeguarding policies which cover all departments. If there are any concerns about the safety of an adult then referrals are made to Adult Social Care. Our contracted providers are aware of how to make safeguarding alerts if they have any concerns”. 

 

54.4   The Chair asked Ms Nicol if she had a supplementary question.

 

52.5   Ms Nicoll mentioned that she had just moved into temporary long term accommodation having been through three different emergency properties. Providers had told her that they did not know who was coming into their properties.  Ms Nicol had been in two places where there were people with drug and alcohol problems who were housed in the same place as people with babies and young children. Ms Nicol asked if the council could confirm that it is down to the provider to deal with that problem and was there a way of preventing that situation arising in the first place?

 

52.6   The Head of Housing explained that the council had limited supply of temporary accommodation and had to allocate it based on the people who presented as homeless.  It was not always possible to provide separate accommodation for different groups but the council did complete risk assessments and tried to make sure everyone was safe in temporary accommodation. 

 

52.7    RESOLVED- That the Public question be noted.

 

52.8   Daniel Harris asked the following question:

 

“Can the council explain why they do not request and record structural survey reports for Emergency Accommodation buildings which house the vulnerable?"

 

52.9   The Chair replied as follows:

 

“The council does not have a full repairing lease and it is only in such circumstances i.e. where the council would have repair liabilities that structural survey would be obtained. Structural repairs remain the responsibility of the building owner/ head lessee and so a structural survey is not required. The contracts contain detailed specifications of what standards of accommodation need to be achieved and contain clauses to cover insured risks. In the event of a significant event such as a fire that rendered the property uninhabitable, the council has break clauses.”

 

52.10  The Chair asked Mr Harris if he had a supplementary question.

 

52.11  Mr Harris mentioned that in relation to the fire break clause, there had been a fire in Percival Terrace last year so he did not know why that contract had not been broken.  Mr Harris referred to listed buildings that were used for temporary accommodation.  He asked whether under the heritage and planning legislation it was the council’s responsibility to ensure that these buildings were maintained as they should be. 

 

52.12  The Chair replied that Mr Harris would receive a full written response to his supplementary question and it was confirmed that the response would be circulated to all members of the Committee.

 

52.13  RESOLVED- That the Public question be noted.

 

            Deputation

 

52.14    The Committee considered the following deputation which was presented by Sheona Nicoll: 

           

          “Journey Home publication

The Journey Home
In December last year, ETHRAG were invited to a parliament event for the launch of the Journey Home Publication by IPPR North and Just Life, Introduced by John Healy MP - Shadow Housing Minister. The report consisting of 45 in-depth interviews had uncovered the bleak reality of life in Unsupported Temporary Accommodation (UTA). Sadly by the end of the 3 year research project 5 of the 45 interviewees are now deceased. This report will help to save lives and improve life for those living in Unsupported Temporary Accommodation.

The topics covered will be:
Stages in the journey through UTA
1. Finding a bed
2. Moving in & First Few Weeks
3. Longer stays
4. Eviction or moving out

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

• Create temporary accommodation boards. (Already in place in Manchester and Newcastle)
• Establish ‘greenlists’ and ‘exclusion’ lists.
• Develop a minimum, consistent set of standards.
• Provide appropriate in-tenancy support.”

52.15    Ms Nicoll stated that ETHRAG was working with various agencies in the city to improve accommodation.  Ms Nicoll had been made homeless last January  and did not want anyone else to go through that experience unsupported.  ETHRAG were asking the council to support the recommendations outlined above.    

 

52.16    The Chair responded as follows:

 

“I would like to welcome ETHRAG to the Committee. I am glad to hear that you have been working successfully with The Trust for Developing Communities to become fully established and representative and it is good to have you with us today.

 

Thank you for your deputation, and for sharing your story with us.  I have read the Just Life report, The Journey Home which contains some good ideas on improving the outcomes for people who are living in unsupported accommodation across the country.  There is a lot of detail in the report that will need careful discussion.  It also required a partnership approach that we are not able to agree to today as most of the partners are not present.

 

I would therefore like to propose that the Council call together a meeting of all the partners listed in the report who would make up a Temporary Accommodation Board.  There are the LA, current tenants, health services, mental health services, substance misuse services, fire and police, environmental health, local housing providers such as housing associations and third sector organisations. 

 

At this meeting we can look at the report in detail, assess what is already in place within the city, and I am confident that much of the good practice does already exist in Brighton and Hove and then decide if together we want to jointly contribute to a Temporary Accommodation Board and other proposals within the report.

 

I hope you and the Committee can agree that this is a practical way to take forward your deputation’s recommendations.”

 

52.17    Councillor Mears agreed that it was a good idea to have city wide discussion on this matter, and requested a report back to the Committee following that discussion. The Chair agreed that it would be appropriate to have a report back following the meeting with partners.  

 

52.18    Councillor Moonan stated that she had read the report which had outlined many good examples and good practice.  She agreed that a partnership process was required.  Wrap around support had potential and there was a need to work with the voluntary sector to achieve that aim. She looked forward to more detail. 

 

53.19    Councillor Gibson welcomed the response. He paid tribute to the brave members of ETHRAG who were living in great insecurity. Councillor Gibson stressed the need for the report requested at the last meeting to be submitted to the next Committee.  The idea of a Board was a positive idea.  He supported Councillor Mears request to bring back a report once the meeting with partners had taken place.

 

53.20    The Chair informed members of ETHRAG present at the meeting that officers would arrange a meeting between ETHRAG and partnerships in the City and report back on the findings.   

 

52.21    RESOLVED

 

(1)            That officers arrange a meeting between ETHRAG and partnerships in the city and report back to the Committee on the findings.