Venue: Council Chamber - County Hall. View directions
Contact: Wyn Richards Email: wyn.richards@powys.gov.uk
Note: 01597 826375
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Apologies To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors Claire Mills and Gareth Morgan and from County Councillor Kath Roberts-Jones who was on other Council business.
County Councillor Sarah Williams presented her apologies for the meeting on 15th October. Councillor Williams also outlined the difficulties for Members who were employed in attending meetings as the days on which the committee was held were different each time. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive declarations of interest from Members. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest from Members. |
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Declarations of Party Whips To receive disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.
(NB: Members are reminded that under Section 78 Members having been given a prohibited party whip cannot vote on a matter before the Committee.) Minutes: There were no disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member had been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011. |
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Homelessness Strategy PDF 90 KB To receive and consider the report of the Head of Housing, together with the appendices. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee received a presentation from the Head of Housing. The Housing (Wales) Act 2014 placed an emphasis on prevention as did the Social Services and Well-Being Act. The Council has a duty to provide free advice, an assessment and to take steps to avoid a person becoming homeless.
Section 50 of the Act required that the Council undertook a review of its homelessness service every 4 years and to publish a strategy. A recent Wales Audit Office (WAO) study of homelessness services across Wales indicated that the Councils deals with crisis and should place more of an emphasis on prevention.
The current review of homelessness started in 2017 with meetings with other services and partners. However, these were not successful and a consultant was engaged to undertake the review. A series of workshops had been undertaken and the engagement had been far more successful. The review had identified a number of key findings as set out in paragraph 1.3 of the report.
The housing market in Powys is difficult in terms of providing sufficient affordable housing solutions. There is a need for partners to engage with the Council to provide support. In addition, the Council needs to work with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and others to ensure that the roll out of Universal Credit (UC) does not increase homelessness. The strategy sets out the steps to move to the new style of service which it is intended to be provided.
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Love Where You Live Strategy PDF 81 KB To receive and consider the report of the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, Housing and Public Protection together with appendices. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee received a presentation from the Head of Housing. The strategy was due to be considered by the Cabinet in November but now more likely to be January / February 2019. The strategy is about improving the quality of the Council’s estates, the lives of the residents on those estates and help tenants maintain their tenancies. The Council is working to achieve WHQS by the end of 2018. Part of that is about improving the fabric of homes. The strategy is about improving the fabric of estates, what customers think about the estates and how to improve services and support for tenants and residents.
There are 3 themes: · Understanding – how the Council engages with tenants, managing areas and services offered; · Place – new approach to grounds maintenance (working with the Highways Service) and delivery of improvements on estates. There is also a need to consider a play strategy and play areas, and improving and rationalising garage provision; · People – encouraging people to make the best of their area, rewarding tenants for taking part in activities.
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To consider the scrutiny work programme. Minutes: The Scrutiny Work Programme was noted. |