HOUSING COMMITTEE |
Agenda Item 23 (b)
Brighton & Hove City Council |
Subject: Councillor Questions
Date of Meeting: 22 September 2021
Report of: Executive Lead Officer for Strategy, Governance & Law
Contact Officer: Name: Shaun Hughes Tel: 01273 293059
E-mail: shaun.hughes@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Wards Affected: All
FOR GENERAL RELEASE
1. SUMMARY AND POLICY CONTEXT:
1.1 To receive any questions submitted to Democratic Services.
2. RECOMMENDATIONS:
2.2 That the Committee responds to the questions.
2. QUESTIONS
a) When senior officers or managers of services for vulnerable people asked to work from home during Covid; were their positions considered for example, managing the services for our rough sleepers? And how could they manage local services if working from home, especially if ‘home’ is say, in Scotland?
Kind regards
Councillor Meadows
b) I would like to know why it is taking so long to relet houses. I have 7 at least in my ward that have been empty for months and at least 1 has been empty for 2 years (that is what I know about) with the great deal of residents that are waiting for a home it is not acceptable
Regards
Councillor Barnett
c) Following the changes made by the Administration to Brighton and Hove City Councils Allocation Policy, which placed homeless people at the top of the priority list for council housing, we have seen many vulnerable clients being moved into Sheltered Housing in the city.
There have been some very serious issues that are now being experienced by residents and staff in our sheltered schemes.
Many homeless residents placed in sheltered housing under the administration’s priority policy have Drug, alcohol, and Mental health issues affecting their lives but are being allocated in to our sheltered blocks without 24 hour support.
This is having a very serious effect on other elderly and vulnerable residents living in sheltered blocks and our staff trying to deal with the problems.
1.
What steps are the administration
taking to address these serious issues and protect all residents of
sheltered blocks.
2.
What is the current waiting list
for housing repairs at council properties in Brighton and
Hove?
3.
What is the current number of
vacant council housing properties in Brighton and Hove, awaiting
being let out to those on the housing list?
4.
Through the Homeless Reduction
Board, I have asked for a financial breakdown of money the Council
has received from the Government for Homelessness and rough
sleepers.
This is information is still outstanding despite having been requested multiple times.
a)
Please can the above information be
provided.
b) Can the Council confirm if the programme to provide accommodation to all homeless people in the city as has operated during the pandemic still stands or has now finished?
Councillor Mary Mears