Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Support, Stockport Homes.

The report outlines the nature of the 2017 Homelessness Reduction Act and implications for Stockport.

The Commission is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Geoff Binns on 0161 474 3721 or email: geoff.binns@stockporthomes.org

A representative of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Support, Stockport Homes submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the nature of the 2017 Homelessness Reduction Act and the potential implications for Stockport.

It was reported that much of what the Act required was already being undertaken in Stockport and services to codify those activities.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         An impact of the Act would be that the Housing Options Team would need to spend more time with each applicant and there would therefore be a requirement for additional staffing and the introduction of a new IT system.  It was stated that the IT system had already been implemented and two additional housing option officers had been recruited through ring-fenced additional government funding.

·         While the Greater Manchester authorities had been working together on practicalities such as legal paperwork, staff training and the development of new computer systems there was currently no proposal to develop a unified homelessness service.

·         The main causes of homelessness were changes to the benefit system and taxation and the high demand for affordable housing.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.