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 why were properties not being allocated on a need only basis.
Members queried that on a specific development, if urgent and priority clients
were not bidding for properties, could the offers be passed down to the next
tier. The Director of Housing and Corporate Services and Company Secretary for
Tai Tarian reported that under the Tai Tarian allocation only first tier
clients would be eligible. The Director of Housing and Corporate Services and
Company Secretary for Tai Tarian informed the Committee that it was important
to have a mix within the community for
each new development not just homeless residents, as it was important to build
sustainable communities.
Members
stated that they did not agree with the statement in the report that an
Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) was not required. Officers informed Members
that homelessness was not considered to be a protected characteristic, and if
homeless persons were being given priority over other groups with protected
characteristics they could be at a disadvantage. Officers added that it was
important to consider the housing needs of other categories and groups as well
not just the homeless.
Members
stated that the Authority had a statutory duty to prevent homelessness. The
Director of Housing and Corporate Services and Company Secretary for Tai Tarian
stated that the 50% allocation coming from the HOT as part of the shared
lettings policy gave homeless persons priority, and if this was not adopted the
criteria would place less emphasis on the needs of homeless people and put them
at a disadvantage.
Members
commented that there appeared to be a housing shortage and a significant issue
with regard to the number of people considered to be homeless. Members added
that with a potential homeless crisis developing it was important for the
Council to monitor the situation, and it was important that delegated authority
was not given to the officers at this stage as recommended in the report.
Members
stated that a lot of citizens came under the category of homelessness and that
the shared lettings policy would discriminate against those people. Members
commented that Tai Tarian does not have a statutory duty to prevent
homelessness and the proposed policy mitigated against this. Members stated
that advice would need to be sought from a legal officer to determine whether
the Authority was breaching its statutory duty to homeless people by agreeing
to the shared lettings policy. Members mentioned that an EIA should have been
attached to the report as it discriminated a specific group of people. Members
stated that a breakdown of the figures in relation to those on the waiting list
for homes should be sought beforehand and that a “ball park” figure was not acceptable
in light of such an important decision. Members added that it was important
that the new Homeless Strategy be put in place before the lettings policy was
agreed to ensure that they were not at odds with each other.
The
Director of Housing an d Corporate Services and Company Secretary for Tai
Tarian stated that the issues surrounding Bush Row were different and unique to
other developments, and that reports of “cuckooing” had been received in
relation to this particular development. Members stated that they were
comfortable with the proposal for Bush Row and understood the issues with this
development.
The
Director of Housing and Corporate Services and Company Secretary for Tai Tarian
stated that Tai Tarian would be willing to work with the Authority to ensure
that the lettings policy reflected the Authority’s statutory obligations to
prevent homelessness. The Director of Housing and Corporate Services and
Company Secretary for Tai Tarian added that Tai Tarian would be prepared to
work with the Council to carry out further work on the criteria for housing
need.
Following scrutiny, the Committee recommended to
Cabinet Board that recommendation 21a and 22 be deferred until:
·
an Equalities Impact Assessment had been
carried out;
·
legal advice had been sought on whether the
Authority was breaching its statutory obligation to homeless citizens by
agreeing to the shared lettings policy;
·
the new Homeless Strategy had been agreed and
was in place;
·
that an analysis of the HOT waiting list had
been undertaken.
Following
scrutiny, the Committee were supportive of recommendation 21b on the basis that
when the policy was due for review that it would be brought back to the
Committee for scrutiny.
3.2 Local Development Plan (LDP) Annual
Monitoring Report
The Committee received information in relation to
the Local Development Plan (LDP) Annual Monitoring Report as contained within
the circulated plan.
Members referred to bullet point three on page 31
where it was indicated that 15 polices were proving not to be as effective, and
queried whether further research and investigation on these policies would be
reported back in the next Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) next year, or would
this be undertaken as part of the reviewing process for the LDP in 2020.
Officers stated that the next AMR which was due in October 2019 would be
reported to Members and follow the same format of the previous two AMRs and a
‘Review Report’ would follow soon after which would set out the areas of focus
for the LDP review process.
Members queried whether there was anything that the
Authority could do to encourage development in areas like the valleys, such as
offer rate exemptions or put infrastructures in place for developers. Given
that the LDP was a land use plan, officers explained that the LDP was limited
with what it could do. Officers explained it was difficult to attract
developers to the valley areas due to the smaller profit margins. Officers
added that self-build options could be explored particularly as funding can be
accessed from Welsh Government.
Following scrutiny, the Committee were supportive
of the proposals to be considered at Cabinet Board.
3.3 Neath Food and Drink Festival
The Committee received information in relation to
the Neath Food and Drink Festival as contained within the circulated report.
Members commented that there was a financial loss
of £3,000 in the previous year and a £5,000 this year to the Council for
running the event, and queried what would be done to mitigate against any
further loss next year. Officers explained that the festival was focused on
promoting Neath town centre and that the losses were considered to be minimal
in light of the positive exposure that the town received and the benefits to
the local economy and traders. Officers informed the Committee that the cost of
the generators was the key reason that the event had gone over budget, and that
this would be reviewed before the next event was arranged. Members commented
that money generated in parking fees paid by visitors to the festival should be
factored into the overall cost also.
Members queried whether a similar event could be
organised in Port Talbot and Pontardawe. Officers confirmed that this was
possible but it required support from local businesses as had been the case
with Neath. Members questioned whether Neath Inspire had been involved with the
arrangements for the festival. Officers confirmed that Neath Inspire had been
involved.
Members congratulated the team for their work in
organising a successful Food and Drink Festival for 2018 and welcomed the
return of the event next year.
Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report
be noted.