Agenda and minutes

View the meeting transcript.

1.1 The Chair welcome the Members to the meeting.

1.2 There were no apologies.

2.1 The papers were noted. The Committee agreed that the Clerks should obtain further clarification from both Powys and Rhondda Cynon Taf Councils on the number of vacant posts and which Departments had the ‘hard to fill’ posts.

PAC(4)-14-15 paper 1 – TPAS Cymru

Research Briefing

Steve Clarke – Managing Director, Welsh Tenants

David Lloyd - Director, TPAS Cymru

3.1 The Committee took evidence from Steve Clarke, Managing Director, Welsh Tenants and David Lloyd, Director, TPAS Cymru on its inquiry into welfare reform.

3.2 Steve Clarke agreed to send figures of the number of tenants under the age of 21 currently occupying one and two bedroomed properties.

3.3 When Members were considering the evidence received, they requested that Steve Clarke provide a note on why he thought the administration of housing benefit should be devolved.  

PAC(4)-14-15 paper 2 – NPTHomes

PAC(4)-14-15 paper 3 – Wales & West Housing

Research Briefing

Jim McKirdle - Housing Policy Officer, Welsh Local Government Association

Linda Whittaker - Chief Executive, Neath Port Talbot Homes (NPTHomes)

Claire Maimone - Director of Housing and Regeneration, Neath Port Talbot Homes (NPTHomes)

Steve Porter – Operations Director, Wales & West Housing

Mike Halloran – Housing Manager, Wales & West Housing

4.1 The Committee took evidence from Jim McKirdle, Housing Policy Officer, Welsh Local Government Association; Linda Whittaker, Chief Executive, and Claire Maimone, Director of Housing and Regeneration, Neath Port Talbot Homes (NPTHomes); Steve Porter, Operations Director, and Mike Halloran – Housing Manager, Wales & West Housing on its inquiry into welfare reform.

4.2 Steve Porter agreed to send details of how many of the 200 homes currently being built will be one or two bedroomed properties and what that equates to as a percentage in Wales & West current builds and how many of the planned 1000 homes scheduled to be built in the next five years will be one or two bedroomed properties.

4.3 Jim McKirdle agreed to provide a note on:

·       the local authorities’ policy for housing transfers when a tenant is in housing arrears. When Members were considering the evidence received, they requested to see a copy of the Discretionary Housing Payment agreement.

·       which two local authorities have not signed up to the agreement.

·       eleven local authorities with plans to build social housing including the proposed number of houses they wish to build.

·       figures on the number of tenants with disabilities who have been affected and relocated as a result of the policy.

·       whether local authorities take into account Disabled Living Allowance when considering Discretionary Housing Payments.

Items 6 & 7

5.1 The motion was agreed.

6.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

Legal Advice Note

PAC(4)-14-15 paper 4

7.1 The Committee agreed the draft letter subject to an amendment at the end of paragraph 2.