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.
Decision:
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.
Minutes:
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.
Supporting documents: