Agenda item

To consider report of the Chief Executive

The Chair referred to the Housing and Homelessness report and welcomed Councillor G Thomas Cabinet Member, Alyn Owen, Suzanne Lewis-Abbott and Suzanne Stephens to the Meeting.

Suzanne Stephens and Suzanne Lewis-Abbott led the Committee in detail through the report and together with Councillor Thomas and Alyn Owen responded to the following questions raised by the Committee on the report:

·        Paragraph 5.1 – What is the number as of today

·        Paragraph 5.9 – Update requested on the 11 January 2024 Meeting and the understanding of Welsh Government on the potential impact at local level

·        Paragraph 5.12 – What is the number of complex cases

·        Paragraph 5.16 – What is the Authority doing regarding this – Pressure on staff who should be protected

·        Paragraph 5.18 – What are the actual numbers not the percentages – Other Refugees throughout the UK – How many  Refugees so far have come to Merthyr Tydfil – Are Ukraine families still living with families in Merthyr Tydfil or have they moved on – Is the financial support continuing

·        Paragraph 5.22 – Update requested on the review – Where is Springfield and the number of properties

·        TACP 2023/24 – Examples requested on the buying back of void properties and further information on this

·        Marsh House – Clarification on the date

·        Extra Care – Update on this project 

·        Paragraph 7.3 – What are the numbers not percentages

·        Paragraph 7.4 – Should read March 2024

·        How likely will people with complex needs be allocated a property and will they need help

·        Clarification requested in relation to Paragraph 2.2 and Paragraph 5.11

·        Has there been a financial shortfall over the past two years and how has this been met

·        Prior to Covid there was a homeless provision above the bus station for 10-12 people in cold temperatures – ‘No One Left Out’ – How did this change – the number of Homeless pre Covid to the numbers now – Where did the extra numbers come from – Is it  in relation to rents – Do we have any rough sleepers now – Behaviours – Paragraphs 5.7 and Paragraph 5.9 – Is there any feedback

·        Paragraph 5.19 – How many properties in Merthyr Tydfil were provided to people outside the UK

·        Paragraph 5.14 – Staff welfare in the Department – How recent was this – Social Media – Is there anything more that Corporate Communication could do to support the Housing Department

·        Paragraph 5.17 – Private Rent Sector – Landlords leaving – Can more details be provided on how this is evidenced in Merthyr Tydfil and how evidenced by Rent Smart Wales – Can evidence be provided on how many families are affected by ‘No fault evictions’ – How many Landlords are not regulated

·        HMO – D2PropCo – Has their ability to purchase properties been affected by rising prices

·        How many properties have not passed through the protocol

·        No fault evictions and Unregulated Landlords – Does this affect tenants to get on the property ladder

·        Paragraph 5.6 – When will the outcome of the Consultation be known

·        Is the 31 March 2024 still the same – How much notice will be given for contingency

·        Paragraph 5.22 – Are all the units full – Is there any feedback

·        TACP – What is the number of voids – How quickly are they turned around – Is there enough housing for the need

·        Paragraph 5.4 – Clarification requested in relation to costs and what is included in the cost per person – What do people get for this

·        Is the Authority obliged to redecorate when people leave

·        Update requested on the former Tregenna Hotel

Councillor G Thomas and the Members then expressed their thanks to the staff of the Housing Department.

The Chair then thanked the staff and the Officers for attending and the update to the Committee.