Agenda item

The Council had before it a report by the Director of Housing and Environment which outlined (1)proposals for action to tackle the immediate pressures in relation to temporary accommodation; (2)issues identified from the Homelessness and Resettlement Strategy, the Temporary Accommodation Strategy, internally and from external partners that required action; and(3) proposals for the implementation of Housing Access Service (Homelessness) developments, as outlined in the report to the Housing and Environment Committee of 11^th January 2010.

The report summarised the current situation with regard to the Council’s Homelessness Service, emphasising that the demand for temporary accommodation was greatly exceeding supply. The provision of additional temporary accommodation at Aberdon House had been planned as an interim measure, which would have relieved some of the pressure, however the Council’s Licensing Committee had refused an HMO licence for the property at its meeting of 20^th May 2010. An appeal against that decision was currently being prepared.

The report stated that it now seemed unlikely that the Council would be able to provide the requisite number of temporary accommodation places within the timescales that had previously been planned, however the following actions were intended to maintain and improve current provision as quickly as possible:-

• Fully utilise the quota of flats for temporary accommodation;
• Develop an in-house Private Sector Leasing Scheme rather than commission externally;
• Put a full-time manager into 165 Crown Street and re-apply for a licence;
• Urgently take forward the proposals for prevention work;
• Consider the purchase of a Bed and Breakfast establishment; and
• Not insist on an HMO licence for the Bed and Breakfast establishments used by the Council.

The report went on to provide detailed information on each of the above possible actions, as well as other options. The report concluded by highlighting other initiatives that were being progressed within the service, such as closer integration with Social Care and Wellbeing; the move towards prevention being incorporated within a wider change in the culture of the service; the service being renamed Housing Access Service based on a Housing First approach; the relocation of the service to Upperkirkgate; and proposals to use the site at Victoria House, West North Street, to provide further temporary accommodation, more intensely supported accommodation and an office base for the service.

The report recommended:-

that the Council -

(a)              delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Environment, in conjunction with the Convener of the Housing and Environment Committee and the Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, to finalise and implement the temporary accommodation options outlined in the report, including establishing an in-house Private Sector Leasing Scheme, extending the provision of temporary accommodation flats and basing an additional manager at 165 Crown Street;

(b)              delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Environment, in conjunction with the Convener of the Housing and Environment Committee and the Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, to give further consideration to, finalise and implement, the use of other properties for temporary accommodation or purchase of other accommodation establishments;

(c)               delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Environment, in conjunction with the Convener of the Housing and Environment Committee and the Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, to finalise and implement the establishment of a prevention team within the service within current budgets in accordance with Council policies and procedures;

(d)              agree to the re-procurement of existing services/procurement of new services within current budgets in line with the new procurement Standing Orders for temporary accommodation (including bed and breakfast and winter care); furniture storage; advocacy/user involvement; additional support needs; and improving employability/social networks, and delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Environment, in conjunction with the Convener of the Housing and Environment Committee and the Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, to finalise the operational priorities;

(e)              delegate authority to the Director of Housing and Environment, in conjunction with the Convener of the Housing and Environment Committee and the Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, to establish corporate pilot initiatives; and

(f)                 instruct officers to submit further reports to the Housing and Environment Committee outlining the actions taken forward under the delegated authority requested above.

Councillor Malone moved, seconded by Councillor McDonald:-

That the Council approve the recommendations contained within the report subject to the following amendments:-

(1)               that the delegated authority within recommendation (a) be to the Director of Housing and Environment in consultation with the Head of Finance and Head of Legal and Democratic Services, and in conjunction with the Convener of the Housing and Environment Committee and the Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee;

(2)               that the Council do not give authority to change the practice of any bed and breakfast accommodation and continue with the practice that all establishments used must hold an HMO licence; and

(3)               that it be clarified that the delegations included authority to approve expenditure.

Councillor Hunter moved as an amendment, seconded by Councillor Cooney:-

That the Council refer the report to the Housing and Environment Committee for consideration.

On a division, there voted:-

For the motion  (28)  -  Lord Provost Peter Stephen; Depute Provost Dunbar; and Councillors Boulton, Clark, Corall, Cormack, Cormie, Dean, Donnelly, Farquharson, Fletcher, Greig, Kiddie, Leslie, McCaig, McDonald, Malone, Noble, Penny, Reynolds, Jennifer Stewart, John Stewart, Kevin Stewart, Wendy Stuart, John West, Kirsty West, Wisely and Yuill.

For the amendment  (10)  -  Councillors Adam, Allan, Cassie, Collie, Cooney, Crockett, Graham, Hunter, Ironside and Young.

Absent from the division  (3)  -  Councillors Jaffrey, May and Milne.

The Council resolved:-

to adopt the motion.