Issue - meetings

Progress Briefing on the Council's Housing Role

Meeting: 23/06/2008 - Environment, Culture and Communities Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Item 8)

Progress Briefing on the Council's Housing Role

To receive a verbal update from the Head of Housing.

Minutes:

The Interim Head of Housing gave a presentation outlining the functions of the Council’s housing service.  The Panel noted that following the housing stock transfer the Council had retained responsibility for Strategic Housing and Support Services, Housing and Council Tax Benefits, Housing Options and Forestcare.  The new Chief Officer for Housing, Simon Hendey, would be joining the Council at the end of July.

 

The following points arose from members’ questions and comments:

 

·         The biggest contributory factor to homelessness was relationship breakdown; either as a result of people splitting up or children being ejected from the family home.  Rent arrears were the main cause of homelessness in the smallest number of cases.

 

·         There are approximately 100 households accepted as homeless, which were included in the approximately 4,000 households currently on the housing register.

 

·         Out of hours calls to the Housing Team would be diverted to Forestcare who would either provide advice or refer the matter to another agency for example the police.

 

·         If a request for emergency accommodation was received out of hours then Forestcare would liaise directly with the Emergency Duty Social Work Team.

 

The Panel thanked Stuart Mudie for all his work over the past year and wished him well for the future.


 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk