HELD ON THURSDAY 11^th NOVEMBER, 2010

PRESENT:

Members:                                           Council Officials:

H-I(1)  MINUTES

 The minutes of the Housing and Social Development Strategic Policy Committee Meeting held on 23^rd September, 2009 were proposed by Councillor M. Duff seconded by Councillor P. Cosgrave and confirmed and approved as a true record and signed.

H-I(2)  MATTERS ARISING 

            It was NOTED there was no business under this heading.

H-I(3)  PRESENTATION - SIMON COMMUNITY   -  SAM MCGUINNESS

Mr B. Coman, Director of Services introduced Mr Sam McGuinness, Simon Community,  to the meeting. Mr McGuinness then gave a  presentation on the Dublin Simon Community.

Mr. McGuinness spoke about the work Simon carries out with the homeless and their Pathway to Home Model. The Simon Community have 123 staff, 30 of whom are volunteers and event volunteers. Simon Dublin requires funding of €10 million per annum. 50% comes from the State through the HSE and the DoEHLG. This is likely to decrease due to the economic situation whereas the workload is expected to increase for the same reasons. The other €5 Million then has to be raised through fund raising.

Following a discussion to which Councillors P. Cosgrave, P. Kearns and M. Duff contributed Mr Sam McGuinness and Mr B. Coman, Director of Services, responded to queries raised.

The report was NOTED.

H-I(4)  UPDATE ON HOUSING MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS ACT 2009

The presentation on the update of the Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2009 which had been circulated was NOTED. The matter will be further discussed at the next meeting of the Housing and Social SPC.  

H-I (5) UPDATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CBL AND ASH

The following report which had been circulated was NOTED:

 “The Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government granted approval to South Dublin to operate two pilot schemes namely CBLS (choice based letting scheme) and the ASH (applicants sourced housing) in support of the Social Housing Leasing Initiative which commenced in June 2010. The two pilot schemes represent a new and exiting method in the allocation and provision of social housing to persons on the housing list.  The Social Housing Leasing Initiative is in the early stages of development and implementation.

In order to deliver the schemes in a fair and equitable manner and to give housing applicants maximum opportunity it was decided to roll out the schemes in manageable tranches. To date 500 applicants on the housing list have been contacted with full information on both schemes and requested to submit a preference for either option. 

The ASH (Applicant Sourced Homes) programme represents an exciting new opportunity for housing applicants to source their own home which, subject to suitability of the property and agreement with the property owner, will be leased by the Council. The ASH programme has just commenced and is being rolled out to persons on the housing list on an incremental basis.  To date the Procurement Unit has received Expression of Interest in respect of 38 properties through ASH of which 19 are at various stages of prcessing for inclusion in the leasing scheme.  The remainder of the units were either not suitable or the property owner was not interested in the scheme.

An Information Booklet (pdf document) outlining the opportunity  for property owners for making properties available to a local authority under the initiative was published an advertised by theHousing & Sustainable Communities Agency. A follow up national newspaper advertisement was carried out in August 2010. The scheme is also outlined on the Council’s website together with an outline FAQ. for landlords who may be interested in the scheme.  

To date the Council has received expressions of interest from property owners across a range of property types throughout the county for in excess of 250 properties which are at various stages of assessment and inspection for suitability for inclusion in the scheme. 

Regarding Choiced Based Lettings the Council advertised 14 vacant three bedroom dwellings in the first three tranches. 8 vacancies were in the Tallaght South area, of these, 2  were successfully tenanted, 3 dwellings are currently ‘reserved' for prospective Tenants, 3 dwellings have had no expression of interest and will be readvertised. 6 vacancies were in the Clondalkin area, 3 have been  successfully tenanted with 3 ‘reserved’ for prospective Tenants, with one unsuccessful applicant i.e. applicant expressed an interest in dwelling, however, dwelling was allocated to another applicant higher on the Housing List.

The fourth tranche was issued 02/11/2010, to an increased number of applicants i.e. 100 for 2 bedroom accommodation and 100 for 3 bedroom, in order to address the current vacant dwelling list of which a total of 20 vacant dwellings have been advertised, as follows:-

            Clondalkin - three – three bedroom dwellings and  three – two bedroom dwellings

           Tallaght South   - thirteen – three bedroom dwellings and One  -  two bedroom dwelling

Both pilot schemes will continue to be rolled out on an incremental basis and the members will be receiving regular updates on their progress.”

Mr H. Hogan, Senior Executive Officer, and Mr. B. Coman, Director of Services, summarised the report. 500 applicants from the Housing list have been contacted. It is expected that the further down the list they go the higher the uptake will be. A new website is being developed to include Council and Voluntary leasing. The numbers are small partly due to prohibiting factors;    people changing details and not informing the Council;

problems with the DOE.

Landlords receiving 80% of rent as opposed to 100%

However Leasing is the only way at the moment – there is no option of new-build. The Vacant list in November 2009 was 143 and is 92 at the moment. The Housing Department are making inroads on efficiencies.

Following a discussion to which Councillors M. McDonagh, P. Cosgrave and M. Duff contributed Mr H Hogan and Mr B Coman responded to queries raised.

The report was NOTED.

H-I (6) ANY OTHER BUSINESS

It was NOTED there was no business under this heading.

The meeting concluded at   7.15 pm        

Sìniù:   M. Corr_______                Dàta    :__12th May 2011_

 An Cathaoirleach