Here's a summary of the Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission meeting:

The meeting focused on the Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation Supply Transformation Programme, with discussions around demand management, increasing temporary accommodation supply, and income generation. Councillors also planned the commission's work programme for the coming year, identifying key areas for scrutiny, including community safety, housing, and public spaces. The commission also reviewed previous reports and letters, and agreed the minutes of the previous meeting.

Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation

The commission received an update on the Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation (TA) Supply Transformation Programme, which aims to manage demand for homelessness support and increase the supply of temporary accommodation. Councillor Sade Etty, Cabinet Member for Homelessness Prevention, Rough Sleeping and Temporary Accommodation, noted that there had been 75 new temporary accommodation placements in April, down from the previous year. She also mentioned the purchase of Ridley Villa, which will be refurbished to provide temporary accommodation.

Jennifer Wynter, Assistant Director, Benefits and Homeless Prevention, highlighted the increasing demand for homelessness support across London and the constriction of the private rented sector, making it unaffordable for those on low incomes or welfare benefits. She also noted competition from Home Office providers seeking the same properties. Wynter explained that the rising costs of temporary accommodation, combined with a cap on housing benefit subsidy at 2011 levels, created a housing benefits subsidy gap that the council had to cover.

Simone Van Elk, Programme Manager from Corporate Transformation, outlined the programme's three work streams: demand management, supply, and income. Key projects include comparing Hackney's homelessness situation with similar London boroughs, developing a demand model for temporary accommodation, and reviewing the homeless service to identify areas for improvement. Van Elk also mentioned efforts to align temporary accommodation rents with 2024 local housing allowance (LHA) levels and work through the Hackney housing company to increase income from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Ricardo Hyatt, Group Director, Climate, Homes and Economy, added that the council was working to stem financial pressures, increase the supply of accommodation, and manage demand. He emphasised the need for long-term financial investment and policy change to address the structural challenges.

Commission members raised concerns about the aspirational nature of the programme and the reliance on external factors such as changes to the welfare system. Councillor Etty responded that the council was actively lobbying the government and working with other boroughs to address these challenges. She also highlighted internal programmes to support residents in finding accommodation and the council's efforts to keep residents within the borough.

Wynter added that Hackney was working closely with civil servants at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Greater London Authority (GLA) to showcase its homelessness services and advocate for policy change.

Councillor Zoe Garbett asked about the definition of annex in the context of homeless prevention, and Wynter clarified that it referred to nightly paid temporary accommodation, or spot purchasing, for emergency housing.

Councillor Caroline Selman asked about the dashboards used to track the programme's progress and how the commission could gain a better understanding of the data being monitored. Hyatt explained that the dashboards tracked costs, demand, and supply, and that the council was working to identify metrics that could be shared with the commission.

Councillor Garbett also inquired about the quality of temporary accommodation and how it was being monitored. Wynter responded that Hackney had high standards for temporary accommodation and used a pan-London mechanism called setting the standard to inspect properties. Chris Fritchard, Director of Strategic Property, added that property services worked closely with the benefits team to ensure that temporary accommodation met quality criteria.

Work Programme Planning 2025/26

The commission discussed and suggested items for its work programme for the upcoming municipal year. Councillor Joseph Ogundemuren, Vice-Chair of the Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission, prioritised a deep dive into the council's response to violence against women and girls, as well as a refresh of ongoing reviews related to the housing revenue account, community or customer service delivery, and complaints.

Councillor Garbett supported the community safety focus and suggested a programme around retrofitting council homes. Councillor Selman agreed with the need to review progress on previous work and suggested a joint item with the Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission to scrutinise the Community Safety Partnership. She also raised concerns about the management of public spaces, particularly London Fields.

Councillor Gooch suggested fuller agendas and combining follow-up points with substantive items. Councillor Garbett supported this idea and suggested focusing on how cabinet members' time was used during committee meetings.

Councillor Selman suggested a substantive review, in addition to regular items, and raised concerns about the quality of housing prevention advice services.

Scrutiny Reports, Letters and Responses

The commission noted letters sent to executives outlining findings and suggestions on housing green spaces, resident sustainment and vulnerability, and trust and confidence in local policing.

Other Business

The commission noted the action tracker and agreed the minutes of the previous meeting. The meeting was closed with thanks to all attendees for their contributions.