Brighton & Hove City Council

HOUSING & NEW HOMES

COMMITTEE                                           Agenda Item 48 (b)

Subject:                    Members Questions

Date of Meeting:     24 January 2024

Report of:                 Executive Lead Officer for Strategy, Governance & Law

Contact Officer:      Shaun Hughes

E-mail: shaun.hughes@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Wards Affected:     All

FOR GENERAL RELEASE

1.         SUMMARY AND POLICY CONTEXT:

1.1      To receive any Members questions submitted to Democratic Services.

2.         RECOMMENDATIONS:

2.2      That the Committee responds to the Members questions.

Member Questions

1. Councillor Shanks:

When will a commissioning decision be made on the Housing Advice and Support service for under 25s be made. The current commission with YMCA Youth Advice Centre finishes on March 31^st and they have not been notified of any uplift and continuation.

2. Councillor Mcleay: Private Rented Sector Offer (PRSO) Policy  

At last housing committee I did not agree with the proposed Private Rented Sector Offer Policy that allows the council to withdraw support for homeless people if they don't accept private rental accommodation. I wanted to vote against this, but there was no formal vote. I also called for further consultation on this downgrading of support for homeless people in an amendment, but my amendment was rejected by the Chair. When can we review this policy, which I fear places homeless people in insecure tenancies, given the private rental sector is the largest cause of homelessness in this city? And how could this be reported to committee?

3. Councillor Mcleay: Empty Homes

It was recently reported that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities recorded figures showing that 1,695 homes in Brighton and Hove were long-term empty as of October 2023 - an increase from 1,596 during the same period in 2022. What is the plan to manage this, given Brighton and Hove is experiencing an acute housing crisis?

4. Councillor Mcleay: Warmer Homes - Action to cut carbon emissions from homes (brighton-hove.gov.uk)In September 2022, the Green administration reported on progress on their budget to promote warmer homes in a cost of living crisis. With £3.0m agreed upon for the warmer homes initiative for 2023/24 – how much of this has been spent on providing warmer houses in the city in the past 9 months and how many people have benefitted so far?