Agenda item

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for People and Communities.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council approve the adoption of the new Temporary Accommodation Policy.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

</AI11>

<TRAILER_SECTION>

The Executive received the report on the new Temporary Accommodation Allocations Policy, which was developed following an audit by the South West Audit Partnership in April 2025, who recommended the introduction of a formal policy for allocating temporary accommodation. The policy set out a clear, fair, and consistent approach to allocating temporary accommodation to eligible people who were homeless or facing homelessness and complied with relevant legislation.

During the discussion, Executive Members raised the following points and

Questions:

·        clarification was sought on why veterans were not explicitly mentioned in Appendix B, given the Council's commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant; and

·        clarification was sought on the referral process for individuals at risk of homelessness following discharge from institutions like prisons and probation services, and how that linked with the Council's homelessness team.

In response to questions raised by Executive Members, the Strategic Director for People and Communities advised that:

·        veterans were not explicitly listed in Appendix B because prioritisation was needs-based, rather than group based;

·        a veteran’s specific needs would already lead to their prioritisation under existing criteria. Legal duties for veterans were met through housing needs assessments which required the council to consider needs arising from their military service;

·        care-experienced young people were the only group explicitly named due to specific legal duties under the Children’s Act and the Council’s Corporate Parenting responsibilities;

·        there was no single, consistent referral process from institutions such as hospitals or prisons and some institutions followed agreed protocols well, while others did not;

·        the council funded an outreach worker within the prison system, though compliance with protocols was inconsistent. The funding for the prison outreach post had been extended for a further year; and

·        ongoing team restructuring aimed to improve integration with institutions discharging people at risk of homelessness and remained a work in progress, requiring continued partnership with other public sector bodies.

An opposition group leader made the following points and questions:

·        the Equality Impact Assessment did not adequately address temporary accommodation needs of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers;

·        concerns were raised on protections and specific requirements for victims of domestic violence which were not clearly reflected, including restrictions on placing survivors in B&B accommodation;

·        enquired whether relevant regulations on domestic abuse were sufficiently embedded in the policy;

·        highlighted concerns about criteria for moving between temporary accommodation, noting the lack of consideration for the needs of young children, bullying, intimidation, or other safeguarding issues; and

·        real-life scenarios should inform how the policy is applied.

In response to questions raised by opposition Members, the Strategic Director for People and Communities advised that:

·        the listed criteria related to prioritising moves between temporary accommodation, rather than limiting moves only for those reasons;

·        moves would still be considered for other serious issues, such as bullying or safeguarding concerns involving children;

·        the policy reflected current legal obligations temporary accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers was provided in exceptional emergency circumstances and this would be clarified outside of the meeting; and

·        domestic violence considerations were  addressed through legal duties and assessment processes rather than explicit policy wording and agreed to check and provide further clarification outside of the meeting.

The Leader moved the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor

Wright, voted upon, and CARRIED unanimously.

RECOMMENDED that Council approve the adoption of the new Temporary Accommodation Policy.