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Agenda item

In considering the Minutes of the Children's Standing Overview Group (Minute 38 refers), the Children’s Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 15 March 2022 had RESOLVED to:

 

(b) Raise concern to Cabinet about the critical lack of affordable housing as a barrier to recruitment and retention in Devon. The Committee understand that the Devon Housing Taskforce are looking at housing in the county as part of any potential devolution deal and will be drawing up strategic recommendations. Nevertheless, we raise our concern to Cabinet about the immediate challenge that the lack of affordable housing is having now on our recruitment and retention of key staff, not just in Children's Services but across the wider public sector. 

 

(c)  Asks Cabinet to recognise that in order to continue to deliver our statutory duties in Children’s Services, the Council must be equipped to attract and accommodate a highly skilled, diverse workforce right across the County. At this time, the lack of accommodation for prospective permanent and agency staff places us at a major disadvantage compared with other local authorities. In particular, there is an immediate need for solutions in the north of the County in order to recruit to these areas. 

 

(d)  Asks Cabinet to consider investing in pilot schemes to provide accommodation for those who cannot currently secure accommodation. This might include the temporary solutions and home share initiatives being explored by Cornwall Council or the Council of the Isles of Scilly. The Council previously did this over the COVID-19 Pandemic for other sectors and services for temporary accommodation. This would be limited to 'move on' housing solutions such as bulk renting hotel rooms, renting properties, buying properties or other innovative housing solutions such as 'micro homes'.

 

(e)  Asks Cabinet to work with other partners such as registered social landlords and government agencies such as Homes England to explore these solutions.

 

(f)    Asks the Devon Housing Taskforce, via the Cabinet and Team Devon, to meet as soon as is practicable to look into this issue as part of their work and report this back to the Committee.

 

(g)  Asks Cabinet, when considering these matters, to also consider suitable, affordable accommodation for our care leavers too.

 

Recommendations

 

(a) that Cabinet acknowledge that increases in house prices and rents; overall reduction in the number of properties available to rent; and lack of affordable, good quality housing is contributing to difficulties in recruiting and retaining a wide range workers whose jobs are critical to the safety, health and wellbeing of everyone in Devon;

 

(b) that Cabinet further note that at its meeting on 2 December 2021 the Council agreed to take action to address Devon’s housing crisis and that Team Devon (Leaders and Chief Executives) has now established a Devon Housing Task Force;

 

(c) that Cabinet continue to work with Devon’s Members of Parliament on supporting the powers, funding and flexibilities proposed in the Devon, Plymouth and Torbay devolution deal which would improve the availability, quality and affordability of both new and existing housing, and;

 

(d) that the Council contribute to the work of Devon’s District Councils, housing providers, registered social landlords, Homes England and the NHS in finding short, medium and long-term solutions to the provision of suitable, secure and affordable accommodation.

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

(a) that increases in house prices and rents; overall reduction in the number of properties available to rent; and lack of affordable, good quality housing is contributing to difficulties in recruiting and retaining a wide range workers whose jobs are critical to the safety, health and wellbeing of everyone in Devon be noted;

 

(b) that it be noted that at its meeting on 2 December 2021 the Council agreed to take action to address Devon’s housing crisis and that Team Devon (Leaders and Chief Executives) has now established a Devon Housing Task Force;

 

(c) that Cabinet continue to work with Devon’s Members of Parliament on supporting the powers, funding and flexibilities proposed in the Devon, Plymouth and Torbay devolution deal which would improve the availability, quality and affordability of both new and existing housing; and

 

(d) that the Council contribute to the work of Devon’s District Councils, housing providers, registered social landlords, Homes England and the NHS in finding short, medium and long-term solutions to the provision of suitable, secure and affordable accommodation.

Minutes:

(Councillor Dewhirst attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

 

The Cabinet noted that at its meeting on 15th March 2022, the Children’s Scrutiny Committee considered the Minutes of the Children's Standing Overview Group (Minute 38 referred), and had RESOLVED to:

 

(b) Raise concern to Cabinet about the critical lack of affordable housing as a barrier to recruitment and retention in Devon. The Committee understand that the Devon Housing Taskforce are looking at housing in the county as part of any potential devolution deal and will be drawing up strategic recommendations. Nevertheless, we raise our concern to Cabinet about the immediate challenge that the lack of affordable housing is having now on our recruitment and retention of key staff, not just in Children's Services but across the wider public sector. 

 

(c)  Asks Cabinet to recognise that in order to continue to deliver our statutory duties in Children’s Services, the Council must be equipped to attract and accommodate a highly skilled, diverse workforce right across the County. At this time, the lack of accommodation for prospective permanent and agency staff places us at a major disadvantage compared with other local authorities. In particular, there is an immediate need for solutions in the north of the County in order to recruit to these areas. 

 

(d)  Asks Cabinet to consider investing in pilot schemes to provide accommodation for those who cannot currently secure accommodation. This might include the temporary solutions and home share initiatives being explored by Cornwall Council or the Council of the Isles of Scilly. The Council previously did this over the COVID-19 Pandemic for other sectors and services for temporary accommodation. This would be limited to 'move on' housing solutions such as bulk renting hotel rooms, renting properties, buying properties or other innovative housing solutions such as 'micro homes'.

 

(e)  Asks Cabinet to work with other partners such as registered social landlords and government agencies such as Homes England to explore these solutions.

 

(f)    Asks the Devon Housing Taskforce, via the Cabinet and Team Devon, to meet as soon as is practicable to look into this issue as part of their work and report this back to the Committee.

 

(g)  Asks Cabinet, when considering these matters, to also consider suitable, affordable accommodation for our care leavers too.

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Hart SECONDED by Councillor McInnes, and

 

RESOLVED

 

(a) that increases in house prices and rents; overall reduction in the number of properties available to rent; and lack of affordable, good quality housing is contributing to difficulties in recruiting and retaining a wide range workers whose jobs are critical to the safety, health and wellbeing of everyone in Devon be noted;

 

(b) that it be noted that at its meeting on 2 December 2021 the Council agreed to take action to address Devon’s housing crisis and that Team Devon (Leaders and Chief Executives) has now established a Devon Housing Task Force;

 

(c) that Cabinet continue to work with Devon’s Members of Parliament on supporting the powers, funding and flexibilities proposed in the Devon, Plymouth and Torbay devolution deal which would improve the availability, quality and affordability of both new and existing housing; and

 

(d) that the Council contribute to the work of Devon’s District Councils, housing providers, registered social landlords, Homes England and the NHS in finding short, medium and long-term solutions to the provision of suitable, secure and affordable accommodation.


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