To enter into Contract with Solo Housing (East Anglia) Ltd to provide Homeless Prevention amongst Single People for the period of 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022 for the sum of £36,720
The Council has a duty under the homelessness legislation to provide housing advice and assistance to anyone in its district, and to prevent and relieve homelessness as set out within the provisions of the Housing Act 1996, Part 7 (as amended) and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 has placed additional duties on Councils to prevent and relieve homelessness for single people who would not have been owed a full duty under the previous legislation if they were not in priority need. This is less relevant under the new Act.
The Government has also set out key challenges for Local Authorities as part of the drive to prevent homelessness. The key challenge relating to single homeless people includes provision of an appropriate offer of accommodation which is likely to last for at least 6 months. This would usually be an offer of private rented sector accommodation but could equally be a lodging arrangement. Solo Housing is the only known matching service for both landlords and prospective lodgers in the whole of East Anglia.
Solo Housing Lodgings scheme has been working with East Suffolk Council and its statutory predecessors for a number of years. During this time the Scheme’s achievements in the East Suffolk area include;
- 155 single homeless people actively placed
- 69 people secured gainful employment whilst in the lodgings scheme
- Average stay is approximately 18 to 24 months
- People typically move on to their own private rented accommodation with employment or secure their own self contained accommodation
- Some of those placed achieve a return to the family home through reconciliation
Solo Housing offer:
- Tailor matching service for both landlord and tenant – with a guaranteed interview – this has been particularly successful in the more rural areas
- Offer background checks for both landlord and tenant
- 6 month review of the placement
- First point of contact for both Landlord and Tenant
The provision of Housing is a service and function which falls within the Cabinet’s responsibilities (paragraph 26) on page 38 of the Constitution.
Each Cabinet Member is responsible for all of the types of decisions which sit within their portfolio, unless certain conditions in paragraph 5.4 on page 35 of the Constitution apply. None of those conditions apply, and as this Contract relates to Maintenance of the Council’s Building Stock using Housing Revenue Account (HRA) monies, the responsibility for it falls within the Housing portfolio, which is Cllr Kerry’s.
However, paragraph 5.1 on page 35 of the Constitution provides that unless a function is reserved to Members, or the Leader of the Council has given notice that the decision will be taken by a Member, all decisions in relation to the discharge of Cabinet functions are delegated to Officers in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation to Officers. This is to ensure that decisions of the Council are taken at the most appropriate level and in a timely manner.
The decision to enter into this Contract is not one which has been reserved to Members, nor is it one that the Leader has given notice of, that it shall be made by a Member.
As a Strategic Director, I am responsible for housing. Therefore, under paragraph 6.3 on page 48 of the Constitution, I have delegated authority to make this purchase, and I am a suitably qualified and competent Officer to do so.
As the proposed expenditure is over £30,000 but under £250,000, and under paragraph 10.1(b) on page 49 of the Constitution, I must consult with the relevant Portfolio holder, to authorise the expenditure. As this Contract is relates to the Councils Housing Duties and is funded by the HRA, I have consulted with Councillor Kerry who has approved entering into the Contract.