Issue - meetings

(A)          that work to determine and issue, in accordance with the relevant legislation, the outcome of reviews requested by those subject to homelessness decisions made by the council up to 31^st March 2022 be    contracted out to a suitably qualified and experienced independent contractor

(B)          authority be delegated to the Head of Housing and Health to appoint a contractor, in accordance with the council’s Contract Procurement Rules, from the Hertfordshire Framework Agreement for Homelessness Reviews Contracts developed by Three Rivers and Watford Councils

(C)          authority be delegated to the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, acting in consultation with the Head of Housing and Health, to review the outcome of the trial of the contracted out service and determine whether or not to contract out this function beyond the trial period.

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods submitted a report, summarising a proposal to trial the contracting out of the determination and issuing of homelessness reviews requested by those subject to homelessness decisions made by the Council up to 31 March 2022.

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods explained that the report provided the background and arrangements for the management of statutory reviews of decisions made by the Council relating to homelessness applicants. 

The report proposed moving to an external review process used by many other Councils but that before committing to a longer term, the review process would be trialled until 31 March 2022.   The Executive Member explained depending on the outcome of the trial, one of the recommendations proposed that the decision be delegated to the Executive member for Neighbourhoods and Head of Housing to determine the best way forward.

There being no comments, Councillor Boylan proposed and Councillor McAndrew seconded a motion supporting the recommendations in the report.  On being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) work to determine and issue, in accordance with the relevant legislation, the outcome of reviews requested by those subject to homelessness decisions made by the council up to 31^st March 2022 be contracted out to a suitably qualified and experienced independent contractor;

(B)       authority be delegated to the Head of Housing and Health to appoint a contractor, in accordance with the Council’s Contract Procurement Rules, from the Hertfordshire Framework Agreement for Homelessness Reviews Contracts developed by Three Rivers and Watford Councils; and

(C)       authority be delegated to the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, acting in consultation with the Head of Housing and Health, to review the outcome of the trial of the contracted out service and determine whether or not to contract out this function beyond the trial period.