Report to:		Hub Committee
Date:		30^th January 2024
Title:		Housing Crisis update - Housing & Homeless Strategy Action Plan
Portfolio Area:		Housing – Cllr Mark Renders
Wards Affected:		all
Author:	Isabel Blake		Role:	Head of Housing
Contact:	Telephone/email: Isabel.blake@swdevon.gov.uk

RECOMMENDATIONS:

That the Hub Committee:

1.     review the progress on the previous Housing Strategy      Action Plan; and

2.     agree the refreshed Action Plan.

1.Executive summary

1.1 The Council adopted the current Housing Strategy in 2021. This was a joint plan between South Hams & West Devon and reflected Housing as a priority for both Councils. In May 2023 there was a change in administration at both Councils and the focus on Housing remains a top priority for both.

1.2 It is a statutory requirement to have a Homeless strategy, and best practice to have a Housing Strategy, particularly when it is a priority for the Council. It has been the practice to review the action plan each year and this report recommends that Members agree the refreshed Action Plan which considers the commitments of the Council vision and strategy and links to specific actions within the plan. 

1.3 Due to the close links between the homeless and housing strategies, the 2 action plans have been merged to avoid duplication and demonstrate clearly the steps the Councils are taking to eradicate homelessness and support those in housing need. There is a legal duty placed on the Council through the Homelessness Act 2002 to review homelessness, the influencing factors that cause homelessness and to develop a strategy which addresses the findings of the review.

1.4 The review and new action plan can be found appended to this report (Appendix 1 & 2)

2. Background

2.1 The South Hams & West Devon joint housing strategy – Better Homes, Better Lives was adopted in April 2021 as the Country began to emerge from the Covid-19 global pandemic. At that time there were still many unknowns about the longer-term impacts, so the strategy was purposefully designed to be able to flex to changing needs. As part of the requirement of the strategy an annual action plan is brought back to the Hub to agree and endorse.

2.2 Both South Hams & West Devon held local elections in May 2023, which resulted in changes in administration in both Councils. Housing remains a priority for the Council, however it is important to reflect that it has been a universally championed issue for all members, culminating in a unanimously supported motion to declare a Housing Crisis in West Devon in February 2022. A new council plan for West Devon is currently under development. The 5 draft primary aims for the Housing priority are.

· Help our communities to bring forward affordable housing in their areas.

· Support the needs of homeless households and provide good quality temporary accommodation and value for money.

· Improve outcomes for care-experienced young people by supporting them to access the housing they need.

· Tackle damp and disrepair in rented homes

· Decarbonise the existing social and affordable housing stock to improve living standards, lift people out of fuel poverty and reduce energy costs for residents.

2.3 The priorities of the Housing Strategy are already in synergy with the corporate plan with the 4 priorities remaining as

· Homes that support the health and wellbeing of our residents

· Make the best use and improve the quality of our existing housing

· Promote balanced and sustainable communities

· Ensuring that homes support the health and wellbeing of our area

2.4 Alongside the Housing Strategy there is a statutory requirement under the Homelessness Act 2002 to review homelessness in the District and develop an action plan to address the causes identified. Appendix 1 sets out the review of both the homelessness and Housing strategies, which has been amalgamated to avoid duplication and bring together all the detailed action the Council is taking in relation to housing.

2.5 The Housing Strategy review sets out the progress against the strategy targets and gives examples of work undertaken, all statistics relate to the financial year 2022/23 and it is recommended that a further update on 23/24 progress is subject to a housing report to the Executive in early summer 2024.

2.6 Appendix 2 contains the draft detailed action plan.

3.  Proposal and Next Steps

3.1 It is recommended that the Hub review the progress of actions to date and agree and endorse the action plan for 2024/25

4. Implications

Implications	Relevant to proposals Y/N	Details and proposed measures to address
Legal/Governance		The Homelessness Act 2002 places a duty on local authorities to review homelessness, and the influencing factors that cause homelessness, and to develop a strategy which addresses the findings of the review. It is not a statutory requirement to have a housing strategy, however it is a corporate priority for the Council, therefore it is essential there is a plan for delivery.
Financial implications to include reference to value for money		None as a direct implication of this report. All new initiatives requiring finance will be subject to separate reports.  It is important to note that Local Authorities still receive a prevention of homeless grant from central Government. For the year 2023-24 West Devon has been awarded £179,442 in prevention grant, with an additional £115,047 in Ukraine homeless prevention grant top up. The grants must be spent in year. And this pays for some core service delivery and temporary accommodation costs. The action plan contains a number of actions around reducing the reliance on pay nightly bed and breakfast type accommodation, which it is anticipated will bring down these costs. This not only offers the best service for the customer but is the most efficient in terms of the Local Authority
Risk		The Council has prioritised housing in its Vision and strategy. Failure to produce an action plan detailing housing activity would undermine these commitments, It is a statutory requirement to have a current Homelessness Strategy.
Supporting Corporate Strategy		Housing
Consultation & Engagement Strategy		Members of the Housing Advisory Group have been consulted and participated in the formation of the Action Plan. Both the Homeless strategies and housing strategies were publicly consulted on when they were first adopted.
Climate Change - Carbon / Biodiversity Impact		No direct impact as a result of this report, however individual projects will have their impact assessed, and commitments to new houses being carbon neutral wherever possible is part of the Vision and strategy.
Comprehensive Impact Assessment Implications
Equality and Diversity		The original Housing strategy has been the subject of an equality impact assessment
Safeguarding		As the Homeless Strategy Action Plan concerns work with very vulnerable people and one of the priorities is around Health and Wellbeing, the corporate safeguarding policy will underpin the work of officers who regularly work with homeless households
Community Safety, Crime and Disorder		Devon & Cornwall Police contributed to the development of the strategy and will remain significant partners during the delivery of relevant actions in the action plan
Health, Safety and Wellbeing		No direct implications as a result of this report, however there is activity within the action plan that is designed to respond positively to health and wellbeing.
Other implications

Supporting Information

Appendices:

Appendix 1- Review and progress of the 22/23 Action Plan

Appendix 2 – 24/25 Action Plan