Agenda item

To receive views and input from the Care Scrutiny Committee regarding the concept of establishing a One Stop Shop for Housing and to identify next steps.

To accept the report on the concept of establishing a One Stop Shop for Housing and identify the next steps, requesting that the Department address the points raised.

Submitted – the One Stop Shop report by the Head of Department, requesting input from the Committee Members on commencing the consultation process. She referred to the One Stop Shop as a point of access for the residents of Gwynedd to be assisted with their housing needs.

The Cabinet Member added that it was very important to obtain information from the Councillors' perspective in terms of understanding local needs, and also having homes for individuals in the right places.

Members expressed their thanks for the report, and acknowledged that it had been a positive step in identifying the problem, as there was a feeling amongst members that there were many social houses in some wards and several individuals on waiting lists.  Members were given the opportunity to ask questions, and the responses were noted as follows:

In terms of the concern that people who are already vulnerable encountered problems such as completing forms, being unsure who they should contact when their circumstances changed and not receiving an update, a member stated that they were pleased that the One Stop Shop would simplify the process and respond to these concerns. It was confirmed that the aim was for the One Stop Shop to be proactive and maintain better contact, and according to the Head of Housing and Property Department, to guide individuals and try to resolve problems in one place.

A member enquired about the detail of the 33 projects referred to in the Report and questioned what they aimed to do in specific areas, and the timeline.  The Head of Housing and Property Department confirmed that there was a lot of work going on in the background, such as on Council-owned land, and confirmed that a report would be submitted to the Council's Leadership Team in due course which would include a draft timetable. 

She noted that the principle of a One Stop Shop was excellent and that everything would be available on-line/electronically, and any updates to a request would be made electronically, which would subsequently improve communication.

It was reported that the Third Sector was keen to be involved in such an arrangement.

A member mentioned yet again the complexity of the current system, and expressed concern about the perception that there was a shortage of places for individuals to live, and that making the application route easier for these people would be invaluable, but if there was no housing available for them, that was another problem entirely.  It was confirmed that the Housing Action Plan would of course go some of the way to respond to the situation, but there was much coordination work to do between the Council and Housing Associations.  Since the number of homeless people was very high, a member enquired about the arrangement to bring empty properties back into use, and noted Members' wish to be notified of any empty homes in their Wards. 

Reference was made to the importance of the Housing One Stop Shop being staffed properly, with information being kept in one place.

It was confirmed that input from not only the Members but the Members of the Senedd and Members of Parliament was essential at the start of the process, because individuals were also contacting their MS/MP.

The Committee gave its support to the way forward and thanked the Officers for their work.

RESOLVED: To accept the report on the concept of establishing a One Stop Shop for Housing and identify the next steps, requesting that the Department addresses the points raised.