northlincs.gov.uk

93                (43) ‘NO SECOND NIGHT OUT’ INITIATIVE – TheDirector of Places submitted a report updating the Cabinet Member on the government’s ‘No Second Night Out’ initiative, following a previous report.

‘No Second Night Out’ (NSNO) was a government led initiative targeted at reducing rough sleeping.  It aimed to ensure that no new rough sleeper spent a second night on the street.

The government were preparing a ‘heat map’ for publication.  The map showed those councils that had formally adopted the NSNO initiative (green), those councils considering adopting a NSNO plan (amber), and those councils that were doing nothing (red).  Currently North Lincolnshire was showing as amber.

North East Lincolnshire Council had adopted the policy.  They were working with Harbour Place, a day centre charity providing rough sleepers with a wash, shower and change of clothes etc.  They also had the Salvation Army and YMCA hostels who took rough sleepers at short notice and an assertive outreach worker within their area.  Both were important aspects of the policy.  The council were currently trying to develop a similar arrangement in North Lincolnshire.

Resolved – (a) That the continuing development of a ‘No Second Night Out’ initiative, with the aim of being able to adopt a policy to meet the government remit, be approved, and (b) that a further report be submitted to the Cabinet Member in three months time to outline the progress made and to present a proposed draft policy towards this aim.

94                (44) CONSULTATION ON REVISION OF HOME CHOICE LINCS ALLOCATION POLICY FOR SOCIAL HOUSING – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking approval to consult on proposed minor changes to the Home Choice Lincs allocations policy.

The council allocated social housing as a member of the Home Choice Lincs (HCL) partnership.  Other members of the partnership were: North Lincolnshire Homes, Shoreline Housing Partnership, Longhurst Group, and North East Lincolnshire Council.  Sanctuary House and Guinness Northern Counties joined the partnership in 2013.

The council agreed a number of changes to the policy in December 2012.  These changes came from the Localism Act 2011 and government guidance.

The policy changes made in December 2012 had ensured that priority was given to those in greatest need including former members of the armed forces and their families.

The HCL partnership had identified a number of areas where the allocations policy needs could be made easier to understand and operate.  Appendix 1 to the report contained proposed amendments to the allocations policy.

Resolved – (a) That the proposal for public consultation to be undertaken on the amendments to the HCL allocations policy, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved, and (b) that the outcome of the consultation be considered prior to a decision being taken to amend the policy.

The corresponding reports of the following items (Minutes 95 and 96 refer) contain exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

95                (45) THE HANDYMAN SERVICE – The Director of Places submitted a report setting out the options available to maintain a viable handyman service. 

The handyman service offered a quick and effective means of tackling a wide range of housing-related problems, at a reasonable cost and by trusted individuals.  It allowed the elderly and frail to continue to live independently in their own homes for longer.  Funding from Yorkshire Forward and the Safer Neighbourhoods Partnership helped set up the service in 2003.

The service installed security measures for target hardening and domestic violence.  In 2005, the minor adaptations service was set up to meet legislative requirements and Social Services joined the handyman service.

The service provided now included security measures, minor adaptations, general home safety checks, gardening work and sign posting.  Appendix A to the report contained more detail with recommendations prepared following a review of the service.

Resolved – (a) That the proposal to continue the handyman service for a further 12 months be approved, and (b) that a further report be submitted to the Cabinet Member in six months time, or earlier if possible, outlining the progress in developing the service and looking for alternative means of funding for the longer term.

96                (42) PROPERTY TRANSACTION SCHEDULE – The Director of Places submitted a report for consideration, and where necessary, approval of a schedule containing the terms of all recently negotiated property transactions.

The schedule covered both operational and commercial property.

Resolved – That the schedule appended to the report be approved.

Note: Reports are in Portable Document Format (PDF) and therefore require a suitable reader to view them. A reader can be downloaded free from the Adobe website (full instructions for downloading the reader are provided on the site).

Where there is no report this is because it is exempt, as it contains information which is considered to be of a confidential nature, as detailed in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act.