To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 24 June 2024, as a correct record.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the Housing & Health Advisory Committee held on 4 June 2024, be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Any interests not already registered

There were none.

The action was noted. In response to a question raised, Members were advised that the wording surrounding the Disabled Facility relocation grant would be clarified in the document.

The Portfolio updated the Committee on the work which had been and was continuing within his portfolio. A fixed term agreement with West Kent Housing Association (WKHA) to utilise its decanted properties at Bevan Place for temporary accommodation for a period of 3-4 years, whilst WKHA took forward options to develop the site, was being finalised. This would help manage the council’s temporary accommodation costs and budget pressure. The Council secured an additional £1.3m of Local Authority Housing Fund funding in March, which would need to be allocated, match funded and spent over the next 2 years to deliver affordable housing in the District. Officers were exploring options with Quercus Housing in terms of direct acquisitions or by enabling Registered Providers (WKHA or Moat) to ensure delivery of affordable housing on sites.

So far, 60 households had signed up for the Home Upgrade Grant (Phase 2), 10 have had works completed to date.  The grant supported households with an EPC rating of less than C and off grid. The Solar Together Phase 4, was continuing and 232 households had registered an interest, 38 had paid a deposit for PV (Photo Voltaic panels) and 4 paid deposit for solar power storage via battery. Solar Together was open to all residents and was a bulk-purchase scheme. Phase 2 of the Project was open for registrations up until the 18 October 2024.

A fixed term Temporary Accommodation Project Coordinator had been appointed. The purpose of the role would be to ensure we were receiving value for money with our providers, that the accommodation offered was to a high standard and to identify alternative temporary accommodation providers and opportunities. The postholder would be preparing procedures and a checklist for the Accommodation team to use when visiting all customers in temporary accommodation to establish temporary accommodation usage and to ensure the information held by the Council was accurate so that the right support was provided to the households. During the visits, occupancy would be confirmed, welfare status reviewed, any change in circumstances identified and condition of the accommodation was checked.

The Changing Spaces Scheme went live in November 2023, following approval by Cabinet and the recruitment of the Changing Spaces Officer. The Scheme, enabled residents currently living in Social housing that was too big for their household composition to apply to downsize, receiving an incentive payment, help with removals and freeing up larger properties to be offered to families through the Housing Register.  The Scheme had successfully supported 6 customers to downsize. The Changing Spaces Scheme scope had been widened to include making better use of adapted properties when residents no longer required the adaptations and to assist residents following a bereavement and having to move from their family home.

Promoting the Two Generations initiative to voluntary, public sector and housing associations organisations, to promote ‘Homeshare’, which matches householders with a spare room, who may be struggling to live on their own and would like some company, with people who may need accommodation.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

There were none

Members considered the report which set out the work of “Head in the Game,” a Men’s mental health programme. The Committee heard from Mark Pinkney from the Charity who explained that Head in the Game, was a preventative participant focused mental health service that addresses the stigma of mental fitness and wellbeing. Their approach was to offer a safe, secure and comfortable community environment to allow people to engage with one another before any poor mental health escalates. The aim was to reduce the number of people who complete suicide at its earliest intervention point, using football and other sport initiatives as a vehicle to start these often-difficult conversations.

Through funding from the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Health Care Partnership, other sports initiatives, including tennis have been commissioned.

Members took the opportunity to ask questions and were advised that the group were made up, with partial referrals from GPs but also through links with charities, social media. The programme was suitable for anyone who needs access to these services to join. Each week focused on a different area of mental health, such as mindfulness techniques. Currently the projects were for those over 18, but it was hoped in the future programme could be run for children.

In response to further questions, 65 was not the cut off age, and many participants were older. Additional sports were also being looked into, and connecting with local sports clubs helped with this. Other sports hoped to be offered, included cricket rugby and netball.

Members expressed their thanks to Mark and the excellent work which was being undertaken for mental health.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

The Health Team Leader presented the report which provided an update on the funding received from Dartford, Gravesham & Swanley Health Care Partnership (DGS HCP) to deliver a programme of rural-based community health and wellbeing initiatives in the northern parishes.

Sevenoaks District Council successfully applied for funding of £28,000 in March for Quarter 4 2023-24 and a further £116,750 for 2024-2025. In partnership with HCP and voluntary and community sector partners, the Council had developed 8 community health and wellbeing initiatives to support residents. The projects were being managed by a part-time Rural Initiatives Administration Coordinator, funded by the HCP, who was responsible for monitoring and evaluating the initiatives to understand impact and lessons learnt.

The 8 community health and wellbeing initiatives were:

·         Digital Inclusion MyHealth workshops/courses

·         Why Weight program Swanley and northern parishes (face to face)

·         Cooking 5-week courses (online)

·         Cooking 5-week courses (face to face)

·         Head in the Game 12-week improving mental health through sport projects (tennis and badminton)

·         Tea Dances events for over 55’s

·         Health and Cook Together workshops for people with learning disabilities and their carers

·         Lunch Clubs (social inclusion)

Members took the opportunity to ask questions of the Health Team Leader. In response to questions Members were advised that the funding was specific to only the Northern parishes, and if transport costs were included then it could have a reduced impact of the sessions led. Through the groups there was the option for continued social connections and if groups wished to continue there was assistance through the use of Better Together.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

The Health and Communities Manager presented the report which provided the quarter 4 update on the Sevenoaks District Health and Wellbeing Action Plan 2023-24. The plan had 49 actions around the three priorities which were; wider detriments of health, health behaviours and place  and communities. The plan finished with 48 actions being green and one being amber following one target being unable to be completed through the year.

Members took the opportunity to ask questions, and in response the Health and Communities Manager advised that warm spaces were open to everyone, and the directory was open to any suitable location to be added. Discussion took place regarding the health checks and Members were advised that as there was a variety of different data around this, it had been taken back to the surgeries to be looked at further. Further discussion took place on how the targets were classed as green, amber or red and in response Members were advised that it was a partnership document and the targets were set by the different partners for what they would achieve. As part of feedback received previously, smart targets were agreed to be introduced for the 2024-25 plan.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

The Housing Options and Solutions Manager presented the report which set out the annual review of the adopted Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy that aimed to address current challenges and ensure the Housing Service could effectively deliver an enhanced service that meets the current and future needs of the residents of the District.

He further advised that The Council faces significant challenges because of key external factors, such as the lack of affordability, the small supply of Affordable housing and the implications of inflation and the rising cost of living. The Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy can only be delivered in collaboration with partners. A number of key concerns and actions were set out within pages 43 to 45 of the report but included an increase in the number of complex needs, competing for affordable overnight accommodation with other Local Authorities, a reduction in s106 for affordable housing and a number of private landlords selling.

The Officer, informed Members that there were still a number of successes detailed within paragraph 18 of the report, which included the appointment of an Temporary Accommodation Project Coordinator, successful Landlord Forum and the Housing and Community Hub. 10 new affordable rent properties had also been acquired by Quercus Housing.

The Portfolio Holder, advised that following a visit from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Homelessness and Rough sleeper advisors, the Council’s Homelessness Strategy would be added to their good practice database for other Local Authorities to look at. The HERO service was commended for providing upstream prevention and support an innovative approach that adds value to the work we were doing for prevention support and its innovative approach. He thanked Officers for what they were continuing to achieve.  

Members took the opportunity to ask questions which focused on the well-being of staff with an increase of abuse from customers, transport help for those residents who could not come to the council offices. In response to questions Members were advised that there were a number of support options in place for staff, and if residents could not visit the Council Offices, services can be provided over the phone and through the outreach sessions provided across the District with the HERO Service.

Further discussion took place on value for money, placements numbers, the local plan impact and outreach work being undertaken by the team, including the Landlord Forum, and the Housing and Community hub. The Head of Housing advised following the request that Appendix C can be amended to add the detail of the average length of time, someone stayed in temporary accommodation. In respect of purchasing our own temporary accommodation within the current spend would only provide a limited number of units and not house all the current households and revenue funding would be required to support and manage the Temporary Accommodation, and the Council would continue to look at options if funding was available for joint bids with the Council’s registered provider partners. Ultimately there needed to be a focus on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

The work plan had the following items added:

5 November 2024

Housing Strategy Action Plan 2 years on

Access private rented sector

One You service Update

SCIAs

January 2025

Empty Homes Update

Health and Wellbeing Partnership Action Plan Q2 Monitoring

2025/26 Health and Wellbeing Partnership Action Plan