Agenda item

To consider a joint report by the Lead Officer, Community Housing and the Chief Executive, Clwyd Alyn Housing Association (copy attached) on the effectiveness of the new partnership in helping people to access accommodation within reasonable timescales.

11.45 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.

The Lead Member for Housing and Communities introduced the Single Access Route to Housing (SARTH) report (previously circulated) to detail the operation of SARTH which dealt with how applications for social housing were managed.

SARTH is the “Single Access Route to Housing” which was the name given to the Common Housing Allocations Policy between Denbighshire, Flintshire and Conwy Councils together with the Housing Associations (Registered Social Landlords – RSLs) that operate in these counties.

The Policy ensured that social housing allocations were delivered in accordance with housing legislation (Housing Act 1996, Housing (Wales) 2014) and the Code of Guidance for the Allocation of Accommodation.  This was necessary to mitigate the risk of legal challenge but also to ensure that homes were allocated to those most in need.

The overall operation of the policy was monitored by a Regional Steering Group made up of Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire Councils and Registered Social Landlords.  

Whilst the policy was a joint partnership between the three counties, the delivery of the common housing register was individual to each county.  In Denbighshire there was one single register for all social housing let by the council and the six RSLs in operation within Denbighshire. 

With regards to the operational delivery of the Denbighshire common register, a decision was made in September 2016 to partner with Flintshire County Council as they were already delivering the service and had been through the significant change process to ensure smooth implementation and operation of the service.

The service involved handling over 300 calls per week.  Cases were often referred to other services such as Homeless Prevention, Housing Enforcement, Tai Teg and also support services.  Call handling and written correspondence were all Denbighshire branded and customers were not aware of where the staff were located. 

The cost of delivering the partnership was less than the cost to deliver the service alone.  The annual cost to Denbighshire was currently £52k.

The operation and performance of the partnership agreement with Flintshire was monitored to ensure service standards were delivered and maintained including call answering performance.

The Chief Executive of Clwyd Alyn Housing Association, Clare Budden confirmed that accommodation was in short supply and there was especially a lack of accommodation for young single people.  Clwyd Alyn had received regeneration funding from the Welsh Government and were in the process of emptying homes in Edward Henry Street, Rhyl, in readiness for demolition and new properties to be built.

A brief summary of the projects Clwyd Alyn had recently carried out in different areas was given to members.

It was confirmed that the housing application was a telephone based service which was an easier process for applicants.  The telephone number for SARTH was answered by people who were technical experts and, therefore, this was the best number for people to speak to regarding options for housing.

If anyone was interested in shared ownership Tai Teg was the organisation to contact.  The SARTH telephone line would ask all the relevant questions to ascertain whether the applicant was interested in renting a property or a shared ownership and they would then be signposted to the best person/organisation to assist them.

The Partnerships Scrutiny Committee thanked the officers and especially the Chief Executive of Clwyd Alyn Housing Association for attending the meeting and providing such a lot of worthwhile information.

RESOLVED that the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee note the contents of the report.