Agenda item

Report by Service Lead, Housing Options and Homelessness (attached).

Council considered a report by the Service Lead, Housing Options and Homelessness (circulated previously) regarding the Afghan Re-settlement Scheme/Afghan Policy.

In response to questions, the Service Lead, Housing Options and Homelessness advised the following:

·       A report had been recently issued where families can find their own accommodation.  If an Afghan secured their own accommodation in the North Devon Council area, the Council would still receive funding and would be required to provide support.

·       South West Councils had agreed the policy of selecting families alphabetically as it was considered to be fair.

·       The provision of accommodation was not being enforced on the Council, however in accordance with the schemes the Council would be required to provide accommodation.  The Home Office was requesting that all Councils sign up to the scheme.

·       The Council had currently 364 active housing cases and 64 families using units of temporary accommodation.

·       The Government had only currently confirmed funding for Councils for the first 12 months. Councils were being advised that if there was an impact on temporary accommodation that funding could be applied for through Devon County Council.

·       The Council had secured a number of self-contained units for temporary accommodation which needed to be retained for temporary accommodation. The Council tried to find alternative accommodation where possible as it understood the impact that this could have on local communities.  However, there was less impact on families requiring temporary accommodation compared to staying in Bed and Breakfast accommodation.  Temporary accommodation was not long term.  There was currently a lack of accommodation for larger families. The Council could not disclose information regarding families staying in temporary accommodation.

In response to questions, the Chief Executive advised the following

·       That the number of second homes and holiday homes in North Devon was now approximately 3,500.  The Council along with other Councils were currently lobby Government in relation to the loss of homes for rent to second homes and holiday homes. The Council had lost 467 properties from the rental market over the past 12 months to the holiday market.  Officers were due to meet with the Housing Minister tomorrow, which had been cancelled due to the changes in Government. Once the new Government was in place, the Council would continue to lobby.

In response to questions, the Service Lead, Housing Options and Homelessness outlined the potential risks in relation to the Afghan Re-settlement Scheme/Afghan Policy:

·       The Council did not have sufficient number of temporary accommodation currently.

·       Officers were working hard to prevent households from becoming homeless and to keep them in their homes.

·       The Council only had a small housing team and were lobbying the Government for additional resources to assist with the Afghan Re-settlement Scheme/Afghan Policy.

·       Local Authorities were shouldering the risk of national immigration.

Councillor Davis left the meeting.

It was moved by Councillor Worden and seconded by Councillor Lofthouse “that the recommendation be adopted and that the Council express that it was not happy with the situation it was facing due to the current housing crisis facing North Devon owing to the high number of AirBnB and holiday homes and the pressure it was putting on the Council’s housing team.”

RESOLVED that:

(a)   4 units be leased out initially to be monitored over a period of 6/12 months and then if agreed a further 4 further units to be leased dependent on availability;

(b)   the Council express that it was not happy with the situation it was facing due to the current housing crisis facing North Devon owing to the high number of AirBnB and holiday homes and the pressure it was putting on the Council’s housing team.

Councillor Biederman left the meeting.