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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED – (i) That the Work Programme be agreed. (ii) That the Accommodation Project Report be considered at the June 2024 meeting.
AGREED – (i) To thank the Officers and Lead Member for the report. (ii) To recommend to the Executive Board: a. That consideration be given to the different social needs of people over the age of 50 when reviewing the local lettings policy. b. That the Band 3 policy regarding social housing tenants living in a flat for less than 2 consecutive years with 1 child or more less than 10 years of age be changed to increase the age to early 20’s. (iii) That the Chair write to Welsh Government, on behalf of the Committee, to request more powers for local authorities regarding social housing evictions in respect of anti-social behaviour.
AGREED – (i) That the Committee thank Officers and the Lead Member for the report. (ii) That the Committee has a better understanding of the complexities of the financial situation going forward. (iii) That some of the measures contained in the Flood Risk Management Strategy could be deemed to be aspirational in view of the changes to the funding arrangements. (iv) That the draft Flood Risk Management Strategy be recommended to the Executive Board for approval.
An apology for absence was received from Councillor Carrie Harper.
Members were reminded of their responsibility, under Paragraph 11 of the Members’ Code of Conduct, to declare any interests in relation to any of the business to be transacted at this meeting. The following declarations were made: Agenda Item 5 – Review of Housing Allocations Policy Report Councillor Claire Lovett – Personal – Self Employed by Wrexham Engage as Housing Support Officer and a relative is employed by the Housing Department. The Councillor remained in the meeting taking part in the discussion and voting thereon.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – (i) That the Work Programme be agreed. (ii) That the Accommodation Project Report be considered at the June 2024 meeting.
The Chief Officer Governance and Customer submitted a report COGC/17/24s which allowed Members to consider the revised work programme of the Homes and Environment Scrutiny Committee. The Scrutiny Facilitator introduced the report and drew Members’ attention to the Work Programme attached at Appendix 1. A Topic Selection Form had been received from the Lead Member for Housing to bring a Housing Accommodation Project Report to the June meeting. This was subject to one of the items currently scheduled for June being deferred to a meeting at a later date. AGREED – (i) That the Work Programme be agreed. (ii) That the Accommodation Project Report be considered at the June 2024 meeting.
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Decision as recorded
AGREED – (i) To thank the Officers and Lead Member for the report. (ii) To recommend to the Executive Board: a. That consideration be given to the different social needs of people over the age of 50 when reviewing the local lettings policy. b. That the Band 3 policy regarding social housing tenants living in a flat for less than 2 consecutive years with 1 child or more less than 10 years of age be changed to increase the age to early 20’s. (iii) That the Chair write to Welsh Government, on behalf of the Committee, to request more powers for local authorities regarding social housing evictions in respect of anti-social behaviour.
(Members declarations of interest in relation to this item are set out in Minute 30 above) The Lead Member for Housing submitted a report COH/09/24 to inform Members about the review of the current Allocations Policy and to provide details of the proposed amendments, ahead the formal consultation process with stakeholders. The Lead Member introduced Julie Francis, Chief Officer for Housing and Assets and Liza Ridge, Housing Options and Allocation Lead, to the Committee and informed Members that a review of the Housing Allocations Policy was due, as it had not been reviewed in a number of years. The Housing Options and Allocations Lead updated Members regarding the banding Scheme. It was noted that there were five bands from 1 – 5 in descending order of priority and Members’ attention was drawn to the full details at Appendix 1 of the report. It was reported that the demand for social housing in Wrexham had increased significantly over the past 5 years. The current demand for each property type owned by the local authority had been assessed as part of the review, along with the availability of stock. The proposed changes sought to ensure that best use was made of the social housing stock across the borough, taking into account the current legislation, and Welsh Government guidance. The proposals included several changes to the criteria within the bands and amendments to the offer process, reflecting local priorities where there was discretion to do so. The proposed changes discussed were: Band 1 · No changes proposed Band 2 · Applicants who are homeless and the Council has a duty to secure accommodation for them (s.73 & s.75 Housing (Wales) Act 2014) (to remain in this band and will now include applicants with a s.66 duty). · Applicants who are assessed as being in financial hardship and living in the borough be given priority over an application that comes in from outside of the County Borough. · Tenants of the Council or a Housing Association who are under occupying their home can be given the opportunity to downsize. This would maximise the best use of our stock. Band 3 · To remove medical or welfare need which has been assessed as low level from this band. This could be looked at in the future under Band 2 or Band 1 if necessary. · Current social housing tenants who have been living in a flat for at least 2 consecutive years and who have 1 child or more aged less than 10 years old are in Band 2. The proposal was to amend the age to 16 years old to give more families the opportunity to move into a family home. Band 4 · Applicants who are intentionally homeless, is proposed to be removed, as it is now covered under the changes in the homeless legislation. · Applicants who have deliberately worsened their housing conditions is proposed to be moved to Band 5 Band 5 · Applicants who have deliberately worsened their housing conditions is proposed to be moved here from Band 4 During the debate a number of issues were raised, including the following:- · How the proposed removal of the local lettings policy would impact priority for local residents. · The Local Lettings Policy was due to be reviewed and would now be brought into line with the considerations of the Equalities Act 2010. It was also primarily to address the waiting lists for the over 50’s and also the under 50’s categories. · Concern was raised in relation to the proposal to remove the Over 50’s age range criteria. The Housing Options and Allocations Lead assured Members that this concern would be considered and reviewed as part of the consultation process. · Assurances were given that criteria for local connection and community connection would continue to apply. · Clarification was sought on the numbers of asylum seekers requiring accommodation and if they were dealt with under the homeless category. · Confirmation was given that there were a number of schemes working within the County Borough to accommodate asylum seekers. Asylum Seekers were not given priority on the Council’s housing list in these instances. · Proposals were being considered that the management of housing allocations in the Esclusham Ward would be addressed under the review of estate management at a later date. · Period of tenancies for tenants who were recalled to prison. Confirmation was given that if it was likely to be a long period of time that the property was vacant, the teams would collectively look at the best outcome. · Clarity was sought on the one offer position, and the potential to be placed back at the bottom of the band if a property was refused. · Confirmation given that there will be one offer made if there were insufficient reasons for refusal received on properties offered in the applicants chosen area. · The Chief Officer for Housing informed Members that the increase in homeless presentation was due to increased rent on private rentals and landlords selling off their properties. Figures could be provided to Members to show the increase. · Assurances given that the purchase of housing stock would continue where possible. • Recognition by members that the increasing demand for social housing was creating a significant pressure on Council housing officers. • Acknowledgement that anti-social behaviour by some tenants could be difficult to address and that officers were working to the current legislation. • Members considered that more powers for local authorities regarding social housing evictions in respect of anti-social behaviour would be beneficial. • Officers agreed to provide the figures regarding asylum seekers and evictions to Members outside of the meeting. In response to a query, the Lead Member confirmed that the consultation would run for four months and that it was live at the present time. AGREED – (i) To thank the Officers and Lead Member for the report. (ii) To recommend to the Executive Board: a. That consideration be given to the different social needs of people over the age of 50 when reviewing the local lettings policy. b. That the Band 3 policy regarding social housing tenants living in a flat for less than 2 consecutive years with 1 child or more less than 10 years of age be changed to increase the age to early 20’s. (iii) That the Chair write to Welsh Government, on behalf of the Committee, to request more powers for local authorities regarding social housing evictions in respect of anti-social behaviour.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – (i) That the Committee thank Officers and the Lead Member for the report. (ii) That the Committee has a better understanding of the complexities of the financial situation going forward. (iii) That some of the measures contained in the Flood Risk Management Strategy could be deemed to be aspirational in view of the changes to the funding arrangements. (iv) That the draft Flood Risk Management Strategy be recommended to the Executive Board for approval.
The Lead Member for Environment submitted a report (COET/08/24s) to provide a draft of Wrexham County Borough Council’s Flood Risk Management Strategy (FRMS) and outlined the next steps that would need to be taken towards its completion. The FRMS previously appeared before the Committee as the Flood Risk Management Plan. Introducing the report the Lead Member informed the Committee of the following points: · Flood risk management was the way in which the risk of flooding to people and property was managed by a Risk Management Authority (RMA) such as Wrexham County Borough Council which was a Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA). The responsibilities of the role were outlined in the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. · The FRMS was a mandated part of the duties of a LLFA. The reports are to be published every six years with the aim of outlining the intended actions that the LLFA will take in order to reduce the flood risk within their jurisdiction. In the case of Wrexham County Borough Council, this included flooding from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. · The original FRMS was published by Wrexham County Borough Council in 2016 to align with other local authorities which have duties as a LLFA and the Welsh Government. The second iteration of the Plan was due to be published in 2022. However, the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays in the creation of these plans. The new deadline for publication is March 2024. · Disappointing news in relation to funding. In December 2023 the Environment and Technical Department were advised that the funding, which was previously received by the council as a ring-fenced revenue grant of £225,000, will now be transferred into the Revenue Support Grant (RSG). This was received by the Council on an annual basis from Welsh Government. The Council will determine if the same level of funding is allocated to the Flood and Water Management Team. · Funding will be increasingly difficult to obtain in the future. The Flood Officer informed Members that the consultation on the new FRMS, then the Flood Risk Management Plan, ran between 13 January 2024 and 7 February 2024. The plan received largely positive feedback and engagement from many different communities. The engagement had largely been from individuals. The plan had also been largely understood with limited changes required to aid people in understanding the plan. A discussion ensued and Members raised the following issues: · Concerns were raised in relation to the cuts to funding and recognition that funding will be increasingly difficult to source. · Clarification was sought on how closely officers worked with the Planning Department to reduce development on floodplains and green spaces. · Assurances were given that flood risk officers worked with the Planning Department and that Planning will be involved with the final version of the Strategy. · Suggestion made that a representative of the Planning Department be invited to attend the next Committee meeting when future flood risk reports are considered. · Acknowledgement that there are a number of flood risk management measures not yet started. · Assurances were given that work was taking place to create better surface water management in urban spaces and new developments through SuDS (sustainable drainage features). · Officers were working with the sewerage undertakers (Dwr Cymru Welsh Water) to reduce incidents of sewerage flooding. · Concerns were raised in relation to water on the roads particularly in the rural areas, this appeared to be caused by blocked ditches on private land that required clearing out. · Assurances were given that officers were constantly working with landowners to ensure that ditches and waterways were better managed. Officers aim to develop a good working relationship with landowners although they can serve a notice to address the issue within 40 or 21 days, if necessary. · The strategy breaks the areas of focus into their hydrological units which are the known river catchments. Considering flood risk by ward was insufficient as it does not allow for consideration of the wider factors that might be contributing to flooding in these areas (such as a lack of flood storage upstream outside of the ward). · A positive outcome of the consultation was that there was a request to set up community groups to assist vulnerable people within their communities. Officers advised that they would be looking to improve communication with the public over the next 18 months to develop a better understanding of the different responsibilities of a number of bodies regarding different types of flooding. · A query was raised relating to gully emptying, particularly in rural areas where the access may be too narrow for the machinery. Assurance given by officers that they were looking into purchasing more suitable equipment for gully cleaning. AGREED – (i) That the Committee thank Officers and the Lead Member for the report. (ii) That the Committee has a better understanding of the complexities of the financial situation going forward. (iii) That some of the measures contained in the Flood Risk Management Strategy could be deemed to be aspirational in view of the changes to the funding arrangements. (iv) That the draft Flood Risk Management Strategy be recommended to the Executive Board for approval.