Decisions

To seek support for revised initiatives to be used as a spend to save approach for the Housing Service using funds to be sourced from Central Government.

RESOLVED that:

(1)       the use of Homelessness Prevention Funding to be used for tenancy rescue initiatives be approved

(2)       authority be provided to the Housing Service Manager to adopt a flexible approach to Homelessness Prevention and to provide financial incentives that “allow households to remain in their accommodation or move to alternative accommodation” on the understanding that homelessness for these households is likely to have a greater financial impact on the Council’s budget 

(3)       a set of Homelessness Prevention Guiding Principles as opposed to a prescriptive policy in order to allow a degree of flexibility in the Council’s approach to Homelessness Prevention be adopted (Set out in Appendix 1 of the report)

(4)       authority be provided to the Housing Services Manager to agree any variations to the Guiding Principles that may be required to reflect the housing market.

To seek approval for the Council to enter into agreements with the Cheltenham YMCA (CYMCA) to facilitate the acquisition by the CYMCA of a 48 unit scheme in Gloucester to be used as supported accommodation for households presenting to the council as homeless or at risk of homelessness.

RESOLVED that the creation of two new permanent posts as set out in the report be approved.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.   

To update Members on grants made to the VCS in year 2018/19.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

RESOLVED that the effectiveness of the policy be noted following 12 months of operation.