Issue - meetings

The Committee had before it a report by the interim Director of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure which outlined options to reduce the volume of goods taken in to storage, to reduce the period for which goods are stored and to set out options to charge customers for the storage of their belongings where appropriate with a view to reducing the costs incurred by the Council.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       approve option 2, at section 3.4 in the report, as the charging policy for storage of homeless households belongings which is anticipated to achieve a cost reduction of £26,898; and

(b)       implement the charge from 1 April 2018.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener moved:-

            that the Committee approve Option 1 and continue operation as at present and continue to develop other initiatives to reduce the “homeless journey” time which will impact on the time that customers are in temporary accommodation and the length of time required for storage.

Councillor Nicoll, seconded by Councillor Flynn moved as an amendment:-

            that the Committee (1) note that almost 90% of those made homeless in the two periods, 2016/17 and 2017/18 year to date, detailed in the report were classified in the statutory decision as unintentionally homeless; and (2) therefore agree that it would be morally unjustifiable to place an additional financial burden upon them at a time when they face considerable additional burdens due to no fault of their own.

In terms of Standing Order 26.5 and 26.9 and following advice sought from the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, the Convener determined that the amendment was not competent as it did not differ from the motion substantially.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve Option 1 and continue operation as at present and continue to develop other initiatives to reduce the “homeless journey” time which will impact on the time that customers are in temporary accommodation and the length of time required for storage.