Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - County Hall. View directions

Contact: Wyn Richards  Email: wyn.richards@powys.gov.uk

Note: 01597 826375 

Items
No. Item

1.

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.

2.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations of interest from Members.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest from Members.

3.

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.

4.

Homelessness Strategy pdf icon 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.

 

Question:

What is the timescale where the Council has to act if someone is in danger of becoming homeless?

Response:

Under previous provisions the Council could work with a person if there was a threat to that person becoming homeless within the next 28 days. This timescale has now been extended to 56 days under the 2014 Act. The Council then has to respond if there is a threat of homelessness. In Quarter 1 (2018/19) there were 114 presentations of people under threat of becoming homeless. The total figure for 2017-18 was around 400. There are higher numbers of people presenting as under threat of homelessness in the north (Welshpool and Newtown) than in the south of the county. It is a 70 / 30 split.

 

Question:

How many open premises are kept for families on a day to day basis? How are people moved on to other premises?

Response:

There are 58 units of temporary accommodation at present run by the Council and others. The Council is seeking to extend this number, but also trying to keep people for a shorter time in temporary accommodation. However there are times where a stay can be longer for individuals due to their previous circumstances.

 

Question:

How does the Council deal with rent arrears?

Response:

The Council has procedures for dealing with the non-payment of rent including the possession of properties. Generally, the Council wants to work with families to get them through rent arrears. 3 Tenancy Support Officers have been appointed by the Council. Powys also has  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Love Where You Live Strategy pdf icon 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.

 

Question:

Garages – parking is a major issue on some estates. Action was to be undertaken on an estate in Knighton – is there an update?

Response:

The Head of Service agreed to review where the service was with garage clearances and will provide a Garage Improvement / Clearance Programme in early November.

 

Question:

Garages in Machynlleth – some in a poor state. There needs to be a decision to remove poor ones and repair others. Could some areas be turned into hard standing areas instead to take cars off estate roads rather than a need for parking restrictions.

Response:

There are parking problems throughout the county. There is a need for estate events to consider these issues as there were few or no cars when estates were developed from the 1940’s to the 1980’s. The cost of improvements to estates will come from rent income not from private individuals. The Head of Service agreed to publish a garage action plan once estate events had been undertaken.

 

Question:

Are garages sold with houses? There are a variety of arrangements in place – in some places the Council rents out garages, in other places they have leasehold tenancies. Parking is an issue and how is this to be funded? Has the service discussed improvement with local regeneration groups who could assist with improvements? There are also some poorly maintained private homes on estates which reflect badly on the remainder of the community.

Response:

Garages not sold with properties. The service would be happy to work with regeneration groups.

 

Question:

Parking and garages – do not agree with removing green spaces as putting in more tarmacadam can lead to more flooding. Energy efficiency in homes is not covered in the document.

Response:

The Wales Audit Office had inspected the service during the summer looking at WHQS. There were 3 recommendations around hard to heat homes. The service is therefore developing a separate strategy which is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 90 KB

To consider the scrutiny work programme.

Minutes:

The Scrutiny Work Programme was noted.