Agenda item

AUDIT WALES REPORTS - Temporary accommodation, long-term crisis?

Meeting of Governance and Audit Committee, Tuesday, 3rd February, 2026 1.00 pm (Item 13.)

To provide an update to the Committee on reports recently published by Audit Wales

· Temporary accommodation, long-term crisis?

Decision:

DECISION:

· To accept the Audit Wales National Report

· To accept the Council's organisational response to the recommendations:

- R1 Value for money

- R2 Planning for prevention

- R3 Partnership working

· To welcome the good work being done by the Homelessness Unit

· To request a report providing an update on the pilot work being carried out by the Council to release empty houses back into use

· To receive an update on the progress of the organisational response plan

Minutes:

A report was submitted highlighting the Audit Wales outcomes to a national audit to try to identify opportunities to improve value for money and Councils' methods of responding to the demand for temporary accommodation. It was reported that the audit had been conducted in Gwynedd between September 2024 and April 2025 with key documents because one of the 22 Local Authorities in Wales had been reviewed. Following the audit, three recommendations had been submitted to the Council and attention was drawn to the organisation's response to the relevant actions, as well as a timetable and a responsible officer to complete the work.

The members expressed their thanks for the report which responded to a very challenging situation across the country.

Observations arising from the ensuing discussion

· There was a need for a clear definition of the word 'homeless' and what the criterion was

· They welcomed that Gwynedd tried to purchase and ensure its own space to ensure suitable locations and try to avoid dependence on unsuitable sites

· There was a need to ensure clear communication with the public - conduct public meetings and present plans and invite the Local Member

· There was a need to encourage an easier process within the planning system to be able to use empty shops to create provision

· They welcomed the good work that GISDA was doing in Pwllheli and Caernarfon

· They welcomed the provision that was being proofed for the future - this was essential for temporary plans

· It was very costly to the Council to keep people in bed and breakfasts, and therefore a better way of responding to the situation was needed

· There was a need to break the stigma

In response to a question regarding trying to use the County's empty homes for homelessness, it was noted that there were legal elements regarding property ownership, but work was ongoing to try to establish a pilot that would bring five homes into the Council's ownership by imposing a charging order on the owner as the final step following warnings of enforcement steps. It was reiterated that the Council had engaged with a specialist company to obtain support on the process and if the pilot was successful, the Council would look at releasing five other empty homes to be used. In response to a supplementary question regarding the use of policy for the process, it was noted that a Recovery Policy had been adopted in November 2024 that also highlighted the steps in the process.

In response to a question about the procedure of placing homeless people and consideration about how people were placed, it was noted although it was not possible to share personal information about homeless people, careful consideration was being given to ensure that the location was suitable. It was reiterated that the service would work closely with agencies, and consider the community, before making a decision.

RESOLVED