Agenda item

To present the Members with an update on the support packages available to Council Tenants.

The Secure Sub-committee received an update briefing note which provided an overview of the support packages available to Council tenants included in the Tenancy and Financial Support Project 2023-2026.

The sub-committee was informed that in response to the ongoing issues that were impacting on the financial circumstances of North Tyneside Council tenants, Cabinet had agreed a financial support package (Tenants Support Fund) covering the three-year period 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26. The package totalled £3.00m over the three-year period (£1.2m first year, £1.00m second year & £0.77m third year). This generous package recognised the impact that the current cost of living crisis was having on the Authority’s tenants. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) would be funding the package, so it was specifically for Housing tenants only.

There was a clear policy commitment in the Our North Tyneside Plan to tackle inequalities and the Equally Well Strategy provided a framework for doing this in relation to providing a healthy standard of living for all. A key factor in supporting tenants, and their families, to deal with the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis and in creating sustainable tenancies was to improve the financial capability and confidence of tenants to enable them to live and flourish in their homes.

The Authority knew from experience that by taking the time to engage with and gain the trust of customers, by having an honest discussion with them, the Authorty could identify the underlying issues that were impacting on their ability to sustain their tenancy and thrive in the current economic climate. Once this was done, the Authority could collaborate with the tenants to help improve their money management and budgeting skills, maximise their income and help them make the right decisions for their housing and financial circumstances.

This briefing note and its appendices described how the Authority was going to use the Tenants Support Fund to help target those in most need through - Existing Support; The Business Approach; Targets; Debt Management; Tenancy and Financial Support Service;  Tenancy Support, Financial Inclusion, Money, and Debt Management; and Additional Specialist Support including - Energy Efficiency, and Specialist Debt Management.

In addition to the help and support available to all residents that was detailed on the Council’s website via the web link below; the Authority’s Tenancy Support Service worked with housing tenants to help sustain their tenancies:

https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/category/1652/cost-living-support

During discussions, Members examined a number of areas, including: 

The processes in place for tenants seeking support by contacting the Authority, Housing officers, Ward briefings, GPs etc.:  It was explained that people in need of support should be brought to the attention of housing teams who will have a proactive approach involving an Initial triage and how an individual’s circumstances could be addressed e.g., debt worries. Next steps included identifying the relevant skills and knowledge of staff in order to build a rapport with tenants. Other support options for consideration could be a door knocking process and referrals such as cost of living type enquiries.

Contingencies in place by the Authority in cases of people not able to pay, also when the voluntary system was exhausted:  It was explained that the  Authority had added a pre-used goods and free of charge furniture facility to its corporate social values, provided on a case-by-case basis through tenant support resources.  It was noted that the Cost-of-Living Support report included on this agenda provided details of wider issues and ways in which tenants were supported. It was also explained that In the borough and nationally, all voluntary sections were becoming significantly reduced in terms of providing people with basic essentials for the home e.g. white goods, furniture etc.

Members raised concerns about the continuing rise in energy and fuel costs in relation to debt poverty. This was particularly relevant with regard to pre-paid meters and tenants struggling to pay. In relation, Members asked whether as landlord, the Authority was in a position to instruct energy companies to remove pre-paid meters or to not install them in certain circumstances:  It was explained that the scope of the Authority to offer help to tenants depended on debt, individual circumstances and financial ability to pay. It was explained that North Tyneside Council, as landlord, did not own the meters in its properties and therefore had no legal authority regarding installations.

It was suggested that it may be useful if officers could find out how/when pre-paid meters were being installed and whether the Authority could ask energy companies to remove meters, as a sensible approach in order to help stop tenants getting/staying in debt. Also, to look at the impact on the wider issues of ‘poverty and energy’ and identifying the number of tenants using smart meters to establish energy usage as a comparison as a helpful way forward; noting that standing charge tariffs were higher in the north east.

It was agreed that the report be noted.