Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

The proposed temporary accommodation placement policy sets out how and where accommodation will be secured and provisions to ensure that accommodation is suitable for households, in line with legislation and statutory guidance.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet approved the adoption of the proposed temporary accommodation placement policy.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

(1)   Adoption of a temporary accommodation placement policy, whilst not a statutory requirement, is sector good practice as it provides transparency and context to the Council’s approach to accommodating homeless households.

(2)   The Council is seeing increasing legal challenge of its homelessness decisions and case law suggests that authorities with temporary accommodation placement policies are more resilient to legal challenge, particularly with regard to out of area placements.