(1) That in order to assist with meeting the additional duties introduced under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, a new Post of (1 FTE) Homelessness Strategy Officer be created on a temporary contract for 2 years and 8 months from April 2018 at cost of around £134,000 (£50,300 per annum) based on Grade 9 of the Council’s Pay Structure at mid-point subject to Job Evaluation including on-costs, funded from the total amount of the Government’s Homelessness Reduction Act Grant.
(1) That the remainder of the Government’s Flexible Homelessness Support Grant be used as follows:
(a) an additional £80,000 in 2017/18 and £80,000 in 2018/19 for further rental and damage deposit guarantee loans;
(b) the re-introduction of the Preventing Repossession Fund with a budget of £40,000 in 2017/18 and £65,000 in 2018/19;
(c) three additional single homeless applicant (or parent or couples with one child) placements at the Zinc Arts Project at a cost of around £3,000 for the remainder of 2017/18, and providing there were no concerns, a further 3 placements be made from April 2018 (making nine in total) at a cost of around £6,000 in 2018/19;
(d) a budget of £8,000 in 2017/18 and £8,000 in 2018/19 to provide landlord incentive payments, in partnership with Genesis Housing Association, of £2,000 per property, paid on the basis that the property was available to the Council’s homeless applicant for a minimum period of 2 years; and
(e) an additional budget of £8,000 in 2018/19 to enable the appointment of an external company to provide specialist services to rough sleepers in the District; and
(2) That a further report be submitted to the Cabinet should any additional grant be received from the Government in order to provide financial support to help meet new duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.