Item 11 - Housing Emergency Action Plan
West Dunbartonshire Council · 21 August 2024
Back to Housing & Communities Committee — 21 August 2024 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by the Chief Officer, Housing and Employability Housing and Communities Committee: 21 August 2024 ___________________________________________________________________ Subject: West Dunbartonshire Housing Emergency Declaration Action Plan 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide members with an update on Housing Emergency Declaration made by the Housing and Communities Committee on 1st May 2024 and outlines an initial and high-level response through a Housing Emergency Declaration Action Plan (HEDAP) which has been formulated to address the situation. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Housing and Communities Committee: (i) Note and approve the Housing Emergency Declaration Action Plan attached as Appendix 1 of this report. (ii) Note the establishment of the Housing Emergency Project Board led by the Chief Officer, Housing and Employability, supported by several Senior Council Officers to oversee the implementation and further development of the Housing Emergency Declaration Action Plan; and (iii) Request that the Chief Officer, Housing and Employability brings an update report to the Housing and Communities in November 2024. 3. Background 3.1 On the 1st May 2024 Housing and Communities Committee unanimously agreed to declare a Housing Emergency in West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC). The reasons behind the motion being raised was due to the extreme pressures facing housing and homelessness service in WDC. 3.2 This was despite positive achievements of the service including. • 262 households prevented from experiencing homelessness, • Progress in reducing the number of empty homes, • And the construction of 133 new council homes in 2023/24. 3.3 Despite this, housing demand has increased rather the expected reduction and therefore 2024/25 has begun with. • Over 5000 on the housing waiting lists, ITEM 11
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• 274 households in temporary accommodation awaiting an offer of permanent housing, of those 89 have children within their households, and • Expected more than 1000 homeless assessments during the year. 3.4 As reported previously to committee the Council has been unable to fulfil all our statutory duties under homelessness legislation and has incurred 68 breaches of the Unsuitable Accommodation Order (UAO) following 274 households being placed in Bed & Breakfast Accommodation during 2023/24. 3.5 The increased supply of new social homes is the key element to help address the demand pressures, The funding cut to the wider Affordable Housing Supply Programme funding of around 24%, has therefore significantly contributed to the Housing Emergency Declaration. 3.6 West Dunbartonshire Council were the 5th local authority to declare a housing emergency following declarations made in Argyll and Bute, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Fife. Since the West Dunbartonshire declaration, a further five local authorities have followed suit and made a housing emergency declaration (South Lanarkshire, West Lothian, Angus, Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway). Therefore 10 of 32 Scottish local authorities have declared housing emergencies, including 4 of the 6 housing stock transfer authorities. 3.6 Significantly on the 15th of May 2024, the Scottish Government declared a National Housing Emergency in the Scottish Parliament although the implications of this are not known at the time of writing. 3.7 The declaration of the Housing Emergency included the request that the Chief Officer, Housing and Employability developed a Housing Emergency Action Plan to address how the Council will tackle homelessness and increase housing supply in the short and medium term. 4. Main Issues 4.1 The action plan which has been developed has four main themes to help address our emergent housing situation. The full action plan is attached in Appendix 1 of this report. The four themes are as follows; • Theme 1 - Deliver and maintain More Homes - West Dunbartonshire approach to the delivery of affordable housing, • Theme 2 - Make Best Use of Existing Stock, • Theme 3 - Enhancing Housing Access and the prevention of homelessness, and • Theme 4 - Strengthen the Financial viability and capacity of the Housing Revenue Account and associated Housing and Homelessness budgets. Deliver and maintain More Homes - West Dunbartonshire approach to the delivery of affordable housing. 4.2 A key action within this theme is for the Housing Convenor to continue to lobby the Scottish Government to increase the AHSP funding along with COSLA, SOLACE and ALACHO. Other actions include; delivering our strategic
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housing plan, looking to increase our buy back scheme and explore external funding options to enable more homes to be built. Make Best Use of Existing Stock 4.3 Some of the key actions within this theme include continuing to improve our approach to empty homes by reducing voids times and reletting long term empty homes, utilising our flexibilities within our allocation policy and enhanced transfer incentive schemes. We also hope to work in partnership with others to address delays caused with energy suppliers. Enhancing Housing Access and the prevention of homelessness 4.4 We will aim to bring a new refreshed strategic approach delivering our new Housing Solutions Service, implement a One Door housing access system in preparation for the new preventative duties but also work in partnership with RSL exploring establishing a common housing application form initially and eventually a common housing register. All helping improve access but also help alleviate homelessness from happening in the first place. Strengthen the Financial viability and capacity of the Housing Revenue Account and associated Housing and Homelessness budgets. 4.5 This theme involves actions linked to some of those within the first theme including lobby for increased AHSP, but also reviewing our own HRA capacity and review current funding models to help enable to deliver an ambitious housing plan along with make savings to add to funding to deliver more and better homes. 4.6 In response to the Housing Emergency declaration, the Chief Officer, Housing and Employability has convened a Housing Emergency Project Board to deliver the key actions contained within the proposed Housing Emergency Declaration Action Plan. This Board will meet monthly. 5. People Implications 5.1 Initial analysis of the action plan do not indicate any people implications. However, many of the actions involved are additional tasks not within current remits therefore may lead to additional staffing resources which we would seek for approval at futures committees if required. 6. Financial and Procurement Implications 6.1 The Housing Emergency Declaration Action Plan (HEDAP) will need to be considered within the context existing resources available to West Dunbartonshire Council across both the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA). There is currently no additional Grant or Subsidy funding available to Councils as a result of declaring a Housing Emergency. 6.2 The Housing Emergency Project Board will consider how existing resources can be utilised to ensure delivery of the HEDAP. This will include a review of Core Budgets and any Temporary Funding Sources which may be utilised.
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6.3 If we are unable to increase supply and reduce demand will lead to continued pressures on temporary accommodation and ultimately Bed & breakfast use which has financial implications. Any funding reviews and subsequent implications would be brought to future committees. 6.4 There are no procurement implications to note. 7. Risk Analysis 7.1 Regular breaches of statutory homelessness duties partly triggered the declaration of the Housing Emergency, and it is highly probable these will continue without focussed, cross Council and Partnership action led through the Housing Emergency Project Board. 7.2 The Council is also likely to experience significant legal, regulatory, and reputational risk due to shortages of housing supply and related services. Mitigation of these risks are included within the HEDAP, and these will be managed through the Housing Emergency Project Board. 8 Environmental Sustainability 8.1 The delivery of new homes is within the approved More Homes zero carbon approach. Our current and future approach to strategic housing asset management will continue to prioritise a ‘zero carbon’ approach to decision making and deliverability and this will be done the aims of the Housing Asset Management Strategy and the Council’s Climate Change Strategy. 9. Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) 9.1 An EIA has been carried out and there are no negative equalities impacts due to this update. A separate EIA screening will be carried out for any policy changes as a result of the implementation of the HEDAP. 10. Consultation 10.1 The draft Housing Emergency Declaration Action Plan (HEDAP) was consulted with a range of key stakeholders including the West Dunbartonshire Tenants and Residents Organisation. The implementation of the HEDAP is predicated on a consultative and collaborative focus and several key stakeholders are represented on the Housing Emergency Project Board. 11. Strategic Assessment 11.1 Having considered the Council's strategic priorities, this report contributes significantly to all strategic priorities. Peter Barry Chief Officer, Housing and Employability Date: 7 August 2024 ___________________________________________________________________
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Person/s to Contact: John Kerr – Housing Development and Homelessness Manager, Housing Development and Homelessness Team, Housing and Employability, telephone: 07793717981, email: john.kerr@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Claire McKay – Housing Development Co-ordinator, Housing Development and Homelessness Team, Housing and Employability, email: Claire.mckay @west- dunbarton.gov.uk Appendices: 1 – Housing Emergency Declaration Action Plan Background Papers: None Wards Affected: All