Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods submitted a report in respect of the acquisition of a property for conversion to temporary accommodation. He informed Members that the accommodation would be suitable for families with children and would provide more settled and secure accommodation. Councillor Boylan explained that homelessness was on the increase and the council had 31 temporary housing units and in the first quarter in 2020, there were 178 homeless households and by the last quarter, this had risen to 235. The council used bed and breakfast accommodation when the temporary units are full which was far from ideal and represented a huge cost to the council. The unit that the council had acquired had planning permission in place and had been stripped back ready for work to begin. The Executive Member said the benefits were clear and the extra units proposed would save the council £26,000 a year.

Councillor Boylan proposed that the recommendations in the report be supported. Councillor Kemp seconded the proposal.

Councillor Wilson said he supported the recommendation and felt it was a sensible move. He regretted that homelessness was on the rise and felt this was due to the Council’s previous decision to sell off their housing to housing associations.

Councillor Bell said she was happy to see the proposal and welcomed the shift into other parts of the district.

Councillor Symonds said she was thrilled to see the proposal. She said that putting people into bed and breakfast was not good for their mental health and was pleased to see that the council would be changing lives.

Councillor Goldspink welcomed this report and wished more could be done. She was pleased that a way had been found to finance the project without adding any financial pressure.

Councillor Curtis thanked the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and the officers involved. He said it was important for homeless families to remain in the local community.

Councillor Beckett asked if Councillor Boylan could confirm whether these units would be provided at social rent.

Councillor Boylan said the temporary accommodation came from homelessness grants.

Councillor Kemp said some of the bed and breakfast units were situated in Harlow so was pleased to see further provision in the east of the district. He praised the choice of building as it would allow for a mix of units.

The motion to support the recommendation having been proposed and seconded, was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, it was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED - That the residential property known as 34 Queens Road, Ware be acquired by the council and converted to two self-contained units for use by East Herts Council as temporary accommodation for homeless households by means of an addition the council’s capital programme and utilisation of commuted sums held by the council for affordable housing as detailed in the EXEMPT Appendix A.