Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Rooms A/B - Neath Civic Centre. View directions

Contact: Jason Davies 

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 84 KB

Minutes:

The Committee noted the minutes.

2.

Forward Work Programme 18/19 pdf icon PDF 19 KB

Minutes:

The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.

3.

Pre-Scrutiny

Minutes:

The Committee chose to scrutinise the following Cabinet Board items:

 

Cabinet Board Proposals

 

3.1    Tai Tarian – Local Letting Policies

 

The Committee received information in relation to the Tai Tarian – Local Letting Policy as contained within the circulated report.

 

Members queried whether Tai Tarian had a statutory duty to prevent homelessness.

 

Members queried how many people were on the waiting for Tai Tarian properties. The Director of Housing and Corporate Services and Company Secretary for Tai Tarian stated that around 7,000 people were on the waiting list.

 

Members queried how many people were identified as homeless on the waiting list. Officers stated that there were around 450, but this did not necessarily mean that they were homeless as such, some people may be in temporary accommodation waiting for their own property. Officers added that a breakdown of statistics in relation to the waiting list could be provided. Members stated that the information would be useful.

 

Members referred to paragraph three on page 18 of the report, and questioned whether half of the properties were out of the reach of homeless people. The Director of Housing and Corporate Services and Company Secretary for Tai Tarian stated that this was only the case for new builds and for the first occupiers.  The Director of Housing and Corporate Services and Company Secretary for Tai Tarian informed the Committee that 50% of nominations would come from the Authority’s  Housing Options Team (HOT).  The Director of Housing and Corporate Services and Company Secretary for Tai Tarian added  that 750  to 800 properties would be available to homeless persons across the county borough in addition to the new builds due to come on line. Members questioned whether under the Tai Tarian allocation, would those with homeless needs identified not be able to apply for a new build property. The Director of Housing and Corporate Services and Company Secretary for Tai Tarian reported that under the Tai Tarian allocation those identified with homeless needs would not be able to apply, but would be given priority for the other 750-800 properties available within the county borough.

 

Members queried whether those in urgent need were identified on the waiting list, and if so, did officers have an estimate of the figure. Officers stated that they did not have the information to hand, but believed it to be approximately two hundred people without permanent residence. The Director of Housing and Corporate Services and Company Secretary for Tai Tarian added that in some instances that those on the waiting lists were not always bidding for properties as they were waiting for particular properties in specific areas.

 

Members questioned how many were bidding for properties and how many were not. Members stated that it was important for the Committee to see these figures. Members added that there were reasons why some clients were not bidding for properties, for example, if somebody from Bryn was being offered a property in Sandfields they would be reluctant to accept this offer.

 

Members questioned  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Access to Meetings

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

that pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded for the following items of business which involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.

 

5.

Pre-Scrutiny

Minutes:

The Committee chose to scrutinise the following items:

 

Cabinet Board Proposals

 

5.1    Former Brynsiriol Senior Citizens Centre, Cymmer, Port Talbot

 

The Committee received information in relation to Former Brynsiriol Senior Citizens Centre, Cymmer, Port Talbot as contained within the circulated report.

 

Members welcomed the revised bid received by officers for the property.

 

Following scrutiny, the Committee were supportive of the proposals to be considered at Cabinet Board.