The Director of Housing has submitted a report to Cabinet to approve the Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Approve the Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy as set out in Appendix 1.

2.    Delegate authority to the Director of Housing to make minor amendments to the policy in response to operational or legislative changes, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Housing and Communities.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.    Approve the Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy as set out in Appendix 1.

2.    Delegate authority to the Director of Housing to make minor amendments to the policy in response to operational or legislative changes, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Housing and Communities.

The Director of Housing had submitted a report to Cabinet to approve the Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy.

Councillor Linda Smith introduced the report, referring to earlier discussions on the pressures of temporary accommodation in Oxford, where demands has doubled over the past year. She explained that the Policy outlines the mitigations the Council has implemented to manage this demand as well as expand the availability of units. The Policy also included measures aimed at preventing the need for temporary accommodation and reducing homelessness. She said that, despite these efforts, the present reality was that there remains a continued need to place people in temporary accommodation. The Policy sets out how the Council makes its decision regarding allocations to such accommodation. Councillor Smith further noted that the Council does not own sufficient temporary accommodation to meet all demand, and as a result, nightly charge accommodations are utilised. The councillor emphasised therefore, the importance of transparency in the Council’s decision-making and the need for allocations to be conducted in a fair and legally compliant manner.

Megan Woodward, Housing Options Team Leader, reiterated the councillor’s points, adding that the Policy would ensure the Council’s decision-making is consistent and strengthen its ability to meet statutory obligations whilst safeguarding the rights and well-being of its citizens.

Cabinet resolved to:

1. Approve the Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy as set out in Appendix 1.
2. Delegate authority to the Director of Housing to make minor amendments to the policy in response to operational or legislative changes, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Housing and Communities.