Agenda item

(1) Ms Woodward presented a report which updated the Committee on the Margate Task Force (MTF), in terms of progress to date, the local and national interest that MTF had attracted, operational and strategic priorities for the short and longer term future and its relevance to the wider Kent context.  There were two appendices circulated with the report, the first was a summary of the High Cost Cases study and the second was a draft proposal to introduce a Selective Licensing Scheme for privately rented accommodation within the Margate Task Force area.

(2)       Ms Honey explained that this work was not just about money but was also about working with partners to have greater control over resources.  She stated that the funding for Ms Woodward’s post came from a performance reward grant and was one off funding it was therefore necessary to look at the long term funding of this project.

(3)       Ms Woodward explained that she was working closely with KDAAT, and had mapped the service as take up with was low through existing access routes.  They were looking at assertive outreach and how to get people into treatment. 

(4)       In relation to the numbers of vulnerable children and adults placed in the area by other local authorities, Ms Woodward explained that they were ensuring that the relevant local authorities were aware of the situation. Some Directors of Children’s Services were not aware of the number of looked after children that they were placing in these inappropriate areas of Kent.

(5)       Ms Woodward stated that her background was in working with 14 – 19 year old young people and therefore she was well placed to work closely with schools and collages to identify the risk of young people becoming NEETS (Not in Education or Employment).

(6)       Regarding the proposal to introduce a Selective Licensing Scheme for privately rented accommodation in the area Ms Woodward explained that it was the intention to keep bureaucracy to a minimum as long as standard were met.  The object of the scheme was to target areas where there was an ongoing problem.   Ms Woodward confirmed that it was the intention to share the learning from this scheme with other areas.

(7)       The matter of tenants not paying rent received from Housing Benefit to Landlords and leaving the property with rent arrears was raised.  Ms Woodward stated that there was the option for tenants to agree that housing benefit be paid direct to the landlord which was an option preferred by many landlords.   

(8)       In relation to a question on what the parameters for success for the project were, Ms Woodward stated that in the past there had been a lot of good work carried out in the area but there had not been a co-ordinated approach.  They were now looking at a co-ordinated approach with public services across the area based on the Community Safety model.  It was challenging to look at setting collective targets across the partnership but she would be reporting to the Task Force Board, where she would be presenting the milestones for the project and would be able to report these to Members after that.   

(9)       RESOLVED that the report and the comments made by Members be noted and that an update report be submitted to a future meeting.