Agenda item

Members considered the Report Card for the Housing Options Service.

Officers reported that a new suite of local performance indicators has been compiled, based on the revised Welsh Government (WG) Homelessness measures, but highlighted that the WG has advised against pan-Wales comparison in respect of 2015/16, as this was the first year of data collection.

Members requested more information about difficulties highlighted in relation to the recruitment of junior staff in the Temporary Accommodation Service. Officers advised that this only related to one specific post in the out of hours service and that the ongoing method of service delivery in this area was currently being reviewed.  Members asked whether, if the post was retained post-review, the salary could be increased but officers confirmed that that the post has been Job Evaluation scored at its current Grade and so this is not possible.

Members asked whether street homelessness is increasing and officers confirmed that, although the media suggests it is, there is no evidence of this locally, at the moment.  Officers conceded that there is the potential for it to do in the future but confirmed that the service is equipped to address this, if and when it occurs.

It was noted that the Council’s ongoing commitment to early intervention and prevention more generally will over time reduce the call on many crisis response services including homelessness.

Following scrutiny the report was noted