Agenda and decisions

Community and Wellbeing Committee - Tuesday, 8th October, 2024 7.30 pm

Venue: Council Chamber - Epsom Town Hall, https://www.youtube.com/@epsomandewellBC/playlists. View directions

Contact: Email: democraticservices@epsom-ewell.gov.uk  tel: 01372 732000

Items
No. Item

1.

Questions and Statements from the Public

To take any questions or statements from members of the Public.

2.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or other registrable or non-registrable interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

3.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 211 KB

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 09 July 2024 (attached) and to authorise the Chair to sign them.

4.

Nightly Paid Accommodation Expenditure Update 2024/25 pdf icon PDF 238 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Note the use of Homelessness Prevention Grant (HPG) and reserves to cover the anticipated expenditure, for 2024/25, to enable the Council to meet its duties under the Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

(2)       Agree that a further update regarding nightly paid accommodation (NPA) expenditure be provided at the Community & Wellbeing Committee in March 2025.

 

5.

Community Engagement Update pdf icon PDF 242 KB

To set out proposals on how the Council will engage with residents to receive feedback on services and better understand residents’ needs.

 

Decision:

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Endorse the approach taken to consultation.

 

 

6.

2025/26 Budget Targets pdf icon PDF 242 KB

This report informs the Committee of the Council’s revenue budget targets presented to the Strategy & Resources Committee in July. The report seeks guidance on the preparation of the Committee’s service estimates for 2025/26.

 

Decision:

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Note the implications of the budget targets presented to Strategy & Resources Committee on 23 July 2024.

(2)       Support the changes to services and savings previously identified in Table 1 of the report and that those are included within the budget presented to this Committee in January 2025.

(3)       Consider how additional income or savings can be generated to address the projected Council wide funding gap of £573,000 in 2025/26, rising to £720,000 per annum by 2028/29.

(4)       Note that owing to the Council’s projected budget deficit, any additional new revenue growth items (i.e. service enhancements resulting in increased net expenditure) supported by Policy Committees will need to be fully funded from existing budgets.

 

 

7.

Urgent Decisions pdf icon PDF 222 KB

To report to the committee the decisions taken by the Chief Executive and Directors on the grounds of urgency, in compliance with the requirements of the Constitution

 

Decision:

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Note the urgent decision taken and the reasons for that decision, since the last meeting of the committee.

 

 

8.

Housing reports from Strategy and Resources Committee pdf icon PDF 355 KB

Strategy and Resources Committee on 17th September 2024 resolved to agree two reports, namely the Temporary Accommodation agreement with Town and Country Housing Association and the lease for 33-39 High Street for use as temporary accommodation and also resolved that these same reports to be brought to this committee to note.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration, it was resolved:

(1)       Note the two reports attached as Appendix 1 and Exempt Appendix 2 to the report.

 

 

9.

Exclusion of the Press and Public pdf icon PDF 80 KB

Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Committee may pass a resolution to exclude the public from the Meeting for Part Two of the Agenda on the grounds that the business involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act (as amended) and that pursuant to paragraph 10 of Part 2 of the said Schedule 12A the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

 

10.

Contracting out of Homelessness Reviews Function

The report has not been published as it deals with information in relation to the financial or business affairs of the Council or a third party.

Decision:

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Approve the award of a contract for the conduct of reviews of allocation and homelessness decisions to Housing Reviews Limited for a period of 1 year with an option to extend for a further period of 1 year and;

(2)       Nominate and authorise to Housing Reviews Limited the Council’s statutory functions pursuant to the provisions of s166A(9) and s202 of the Housing Act 1996 to perform reviews of decisions made either regarding the suitability of accommodation offered s166A(9) or as the result of a decision upon a request for assistance as homeless s202.