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Homeless Applications & Interim Accommodation

Wesley Hall made this Freedom of Information request to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council as part of a batch sent to 382 authorities Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding.

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Dear Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council,

Dear FOI Officer,

Re: Freedom of Information Request - Homeless Applications & Interim Accommodation

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the council’s expenditure on interim temporary accommodation and related costs, as well as the measures being taken to reduce such expenditures.

Please provide the following information:

1. Homeless Applications and Interim Accommodation:

- Over the past twelve months, how many people have made a homeless application to the Council?
- Over the past twelve months, how many people have been provided with interim accommodation pursuant to Section 188(1) of the Housing Act 1996?
- Over the past twelve months, how many people have been provided with interim accommodation pursuant to Section 189(b) of the Housing Act 1996?
- Over the past twelve months, what was the total cost of providing interim accommodation?
a) What proportion of this cost was paid to Travelodge and/or any of its parent companies/subsidiaries?
b) What was the total amount paid to Travelodge and/or its related entities over the past twelve months?

2. Temporary Accommodation Expenditure and Associated Costs:

- What has been the total expenditure on interim temporary accommodation (e.g., Travelodge, B&Bs) for homeless individuals over the past three financial years?
- Please provide a breakdown of these costs by location, including the number of placements made outside the borough.
- What has been the total expenditure on affiliated costs such as storage, taxis, and other related services for individuals placed in temporary accommodation outside the borough over the past three financial years?
- Please provide details of these costs by category (e.g., storage, transportation, etc.) and location.

3. Protection of Personal Property for Homeless Applicants:

- Over the past twelve months, how many homeless applicants have had their personal property protected by the local authority?
- What is the average length of time that a homeless applicant’s personal property is stored by the local authority?
- What is the average cost of storing a homeless applicant’s personal property while they are in interim accommodation?
- Under what circumstances does the local authority protect the personal property of homeless applicants?
- As part of the homeless application process, does the local authority expressly ask the homeless applicant whether they need their personal property protected?
- If not, please state the reasons why this question is not asked.
- Please provide copies of the local authority’s policies regarding homeless applications.
- Please provide a copy of the local authority’s policy regarding the protection of the personal property of homeless applicants.
- Please disclose a copy of the council's homeless procedures manual or policy document followed by housing solutions officers at its homeless service centres/homeless persons offices.
- Over the past three years, how many complaints have been made by homeless applicants regarding the council’s failure to protect their personal property?

4. Proactive Measures to Reduce Temporary Accommodation Costs:

- What specific measures has the council taken to reduce the reliance on temporary accommodation outside the borough, such as Travelodge and B&Bs?
- Has the council developed or initiated any programs to increase the availability of local temporary accommodation, particularly through the use of empty properties or land within the borough? If so, please provide details.

5. Utilisation of Empty Properties and Land:

- How many empty properties and parcels of land are currently owned by the council that could potentially be used for temporary accommodation?
- Has the council considered or initiated any compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) to acquire vacant properties for conversion into temporary accommodation? If so, please provide details, including the number of properties targeted, the outcome, and associated costs.
- What steps has the council taken to encourage community/ non-profit groups or social enterprises to make use of disused land or buildings via adverse possession for temporary accommodation or support services? Please provide examples, if any.

6. Comparative Models and Best Practices:

- Is the council aware of successful models such as Calderwood House in Cumbria, where an empty property (a former police station) was transformed into temporary accommodation and support services? If so, has the council explored similar initiatives within the borough? Please provide details of any discussions, plans, or actions taken.
- Has the council considered offering similar arrangements, such as a peppercorn rent, to community groups or social enterprises willing to repurpose empty properties for temporary accommodation or support services? If not, what are the reasons for not pursuing this option?

7. Support Services for Individuals in Temporary Accommodation:

What support services does the council currently provide for individuals placed in temporary accommodation outside the borough, particularly in terms of maintaining their connection to local support networks, healthcare providers, and other essential services?
Are there any programs in place to assist individuals in transitioning from temporary accommodation outside the borough to permanent housing within the borough? If so, please provide details on the nature of the support provided, outcomes, and costs.

8. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Complaints:

How does the council monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of its temporary accommodation placements, particularly those made outside the borough? Please provide any available data on the impact of these placements on residents, including any assessments of detriment or distress caused.
Has the council conducted any cost-benefit analysis comparing the current expenditure on temporary accommodation outside the borough with potential savings from investing in local solutions (e.g., repurposing empty properties)? If so, please provide the findings.
I would appreciate it if the information could be provided in electronic format, and I look forward to your response within the statutory 20 working days.

Thank you for your assistance with this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Wes Hall

foi, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

Thank you for your e-mail, requesting that certain information is made available to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000/Environmental Information Regulations 2004. The Council has now started to process your request.

The Council always aims to disclose information as quickly as possible. However, if for some reason we cannot complete your request within 20 working days (ie by 01/10/2024) we will write to you again before that date to explain why and to let you know when you will receive the information. Please remember that documents sent by post may take few extra days to reach you.

The Council will normally disclose all the information which you have requested unless there is a good reason for not doing so. If any information will not be disclosed because it is exempt, we will write to you and explain why. Please note that, whilst the Council will disclose documents which already exist and which contain the information which you have requested, the Council is not required to compile documents specifically to deal with your request.

Once the information has been identified, the Council can also ask that you pay a fee to cover the costs of any printing, photocopying, postage, etc., for processing and delivering the information to you. Details of any fee to be paid will be notified to you as soon as possible.

Please quote the reference number 24/846 in any future correspondence about this request.

If you are dissatisfied with this response, then you may ask the Council to conduct an internal review of your case by writing to the Council’s FOI Team ([Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council request email]). If you are still not content after the Council has conducted an internal review of your case, then you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the internal review procedure provided by the Borough Council.

The Information Commissioner can be contacted in writing at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

FOI Team
Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council

show quoted sections

Claire Keeling, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Wesley

 

Re:24/846

 

Thank you for your freedom of information request given the reference
above. Before answering I have some points of clarification which I hope
you can help me with to aid me when answering.   

 

The first query relates to the questions under the heading, applications,
and interim accommodation.

 

You ask how many people have been provided with interim accommodation
under s188 of the housing act, and then also under s189. To be clear the
duty to provide interim accommodation comes under s188. S189 is for the
authority to take reasonable steps to help the applicant secure that
suitable accommodation becomes available, for at least 6 months.
Reasonable steps are set out in PHPs, and we do not provide interim
accommodation under this section of the Housing Act. Given this to enable
me to answer this question, are you able to clarify what you mean by the
provision of interim accommodation under s189(b) as any interim
accommodation provided at this time would be s188. 

 

You then go on to ask about the cost of providing interim accommodation,
could you confirm if you just mean interim accommodation provided under
s188 or the total costs for all interim and TA provided under s188, s193
and s190.

 

Under the heading TA expenditure

 

Can you confirm when you ask about costs of interim accommodation, again
can you clarify if you mean under s188 or all duties. 

 

Please do come back and clarify these.

 

In the meantime, I will respond to the rest of the FOI and once I receive
your clarification on the above, I will determine if we are able to answer
them based on the clarification. 

 

Kind regards

 

Miss Claire L Keeling

Housing Solutions Manager

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

 

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Claire Keeling, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Wesley

 

Re: FOI 24/846

 

Thank you for your request for information. I refer to your request for
information dated 03 September 2024 and given the reference number above.
I have considered this request under the provisions of Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (“FOIA”).

 

You requested information under the following headings from the Council:

 

• Homeless applications and interim accommodation
• Temporary accommodation expenditure and associated costs
• Protection of personal property for homeless applicants
• Proactive measures to reduce TA costs
• Utilisation of empty homes and land
• Comparative models and best practice
• Support services for individuals in temporary accommodation
• Monitoring, evaluation and complaints.

 

I can confirm that the Council does hold the information requested.

 

Information Available by Other Means

 

In accordance with s.21 FOIA, information is exempt from disclosure under
FOIA if it is reasonably available to you by other means. In this case,
the information you have requested is [published on

the Council’s website/ available through the Council’s publication scheme/
other]. Include hyperlink & any relevant instructions for access where
info is published on Council website].

 

Relevant Exemptions

 

I do not consider there are any relevant exemptions which apply to the
information requested.

 

Provision of Information

 

I have replicated the question you have asked to assist with answering.

 

1. Homeless Applications and Interim Accommodation:

 

- Over the past twelve months, how many people have made a homeless
application to the Council? 406

- Over the past twelve months, how many people have been provided with
interim accommodation pursuant to Section 188(1) of the Housing Act 1996?
Clarification email sent

- Over the past twelve months, how many people have been provided with
interim accommodation pursuant to Section 189(b) of the Housing Act 1996?
Clarification email sent

- Over the past twelve months, what was the total cost of providing
interim accommodation? Will look to answer once I have received
clarification

a) What proportion of this cost was paid to Travelodge and/or any of its
parent companies/subsidiaries? Will look to answer once I have received
clarification

b) What was the total amount paid to Travelodge and/or its related
entities over the past twelve months? Will look to answer once I have
received clarification

 

2. Temporary Accommodation Expenditure and Associated Costs:

 

- What has been the total expenditure on interim temporary accommodation
(e.g., Travelodge, B&Bs) for homeless individuals over the past three
financial years? Will look to answer once I have received clarification

- Please provide a breakdown of these costs by location, including the
number of placements made outside the borough. Will look to answer once I
have received clarification

- What has been the total expenditure on affiliated costs such as storage,
taxis, and other related services for individuals placed in temporary
accommodation outside the borough over the past three financial years?

 

• Please provide details of these costs by category (e.g., storage,
transportation, etc.) and location.

 

Council spending information and categories can be found on our website in
our monthly published spend data

 

[1]Council spending – Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

 

3. Protection of Personal Property for Homeless Applicants:

 

- Over the past twelve months, how many homeless applicants have had their
personal property protected by the local authority? One

- What is the average length of time that a homeless applicant’s personal
property is stored by the local authority? Booking is ongoing

- What is the average cost of storing a homeless applicant’s personal
property while they are in interim accommodation? Nil

- Under what circumstances does the local authority protect the personal
property of homeless applicants? When required

- As part of the homeless application process, does the local authority
expressly ask the homeless applicant whether they need their personal
property protected? No but we do discuss whether they need furnished or
unfurnished properties if they require TA

- If not, please state the reasons why this question is not asked.

- Please provide copies of the local authority’s policies regarding
homeless applications. We do not have one, we operate within the legal
framework

- Please provide a copy of the local authority’s policy regarding the
protection of the personal property of homeless applicants. We do not have
one, we work within the legislation

- Please disclose a copy of the council's homeless procedures manual or
policy document followed by housing solutions officers at its homeless
service centres/homeless persons offices. We do not have one

- Over the past three years, how many complaints have been made by
homeless applicants regarding the council’s failure to protect their
personal property? None

 

4. Proactive Measures to Reduce Temporary Accommodation Costs:

 

- What specific measures has the council taken to reduce the reliance on
temporary accommodation outside the borough, such as Travelodge and B&Bs?
We work with our local RP to utilise accommodation in the borough through
their stock and have invested in our own accommodation and continue to
look for further opportunities to purchase / lease additional stock for
our use.  

- Has the council developed or initiated any programs to increase the
availability of local temporary accommodation, particularly through the
use of empty properties or land within the borough? If so, please provide
details. Not currently

 

5. Utilisation of Empty Properties and Land:

 

- How many empty properties and parcels of land are currently owned by the
council that could potentially be used for temporary accommodation? None
known

- Has the council considered or initiated any compulsory purchase orders
(CPOs) to acquire vacant properties for conversion into temporary
accommodation? If so, please provide details, including the number of
properties targeted, the outcome, and associated costs. None

- What steps has the council taken to encourage community/ non-profit
groups or social enterprises to make use of disused land or buildings via
adverse possession for temporary accommodation or support services? Please
provide examples, if any. None

 

6. Comparative Models and Best Practices:

 

- Is the council aware of successful models such as Calderwood House in
Cumbria, where an empty property (a former police station) was transformed
into temporary accommodation and support services? If so, has the council
explored similar initiatives within the borough? Please provide details of
any discussions, plans, or actions taken. None

- Has the council considered offering similar arrangements, such as a
peppercorn rent, to community groups or social enterprises willing to
repurpose empty properties for temporary accommodation or support
services? If not, what are the reasons for not pursuing this option? None

 

7. Support Services for Individuals in Temporary Accommodation:

 

What support services does the council currently provide for individuals
placed in temporary accommodation outside the borough, particularly in
terms of maintaining their connection to local support networks,
healthcare providers, and other essential services? Before placing we
complete a full suitability assessment to look at the family’s situation
and what the support needs are, and whilst we do place out of borough,
this work helps us identify who needs to come back in – this is in line
with our TA and procurement Policy – We also employ a visiting officer who
visits those in TA to offer advice support, referrals etc

Are there any programs in place to assist individuals in transitioning
from temporary accommodation outside the borough to permanent housing
within the borough? If so, please provide details on the nature of the
support provided, outcomes, and costs. Our visiting office, they are on a
full-time contract on a Grade 5/6 – which equates to a salary between
£27,822 - £33,297

 

8. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Complaints:

 

How does the council monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of its
temporary accommodation placements, particularly those made outside the
borough? Please provide any available data on the impact of these
placements on residents, including any assessments of detriment or
distress caused. We don’t monitor

Has the council conducted any cost-benefit analysis comparing the current
expenditure on temporary accommodation outside the borough with potential
savings from investing in local solutions (e.g., repurposing empty
properties)? If so, please provide the findings. No

 

Internal Review

 

I hope that this satisfies your enquiries, and I look forward to hearing
back from you with the clarification on the points above, and then I can
finalise those questions. However if you are dissatisfied with this
response, you can request an internal review of the decision by making a
request to [2][Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council request email].

 

Complain to the Information Commissioner

 

If you are not content after the Council has conducted an internal review
of your case, then you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner
(ICO) for a decision.

 

The Information Commissioner can be contacted in writing at:

 

The Information Commissioner’s Office,

Wycliffe House,

Water Lane,

Wilmslow,

Cheshire,

SK9 5AF.

 

Kind regards

 

Miss Claire L Keeling

Housing Solutions Manager

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

 

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Claire Keeling, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Wesley

 

Further to my email below and my partial response, I have heard nothing
back re clarification. If you would like me to finalise this FOI if you
could clarify by Friday 29 November, otherwise we will close this FOI

 

Miss Claire L Keeling

Housing Solutions Manager

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

 

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From: Claire Keeling
Sent: 25 October 2024 13:10
To: [FOI #1170860 email]
Cc: Christine Anderson <[email address]>; Linda Hibbs
<[email address]>; foi <[Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council request email]>
Subject: Your freedom of Information Request to Tonbridge and Malling
Borough Council

 

Dear Wesley

 

Re:24/846

 

Thank you for your freedom of information request given the reference
above. Before answering I have some points of clarification which I hope
you can help me with to aid me when answering.   

 

The first query relates to the questions under the heading, applications,
and interim accommodation.

 

You ask how many people have been provided with interim accommodation
under s188 of the housing act, and then also under s189. To be clear the
duty to provide interim accommodation comes under s188. S189 is for the
authority to take reasonable steps to help the applicant secure that
suitable accommodation becomes available, for at least 6 months.
Reasonable steps are set out in PHPs, and we do not provide interim
accommodation under this section of the Housing Act. Given this to enable
me to answer this question, are you able to clarify what you mean by the
provision of interim accommodation under s189(b) as any interim
accommodation provided at this time would be s188. 

 

You then go on to ask about the cost of providing interim accommodation,
could you confirm if you just mean interim accommodation provided under
s188 or the total costs for all interim and TA provided under s188, s193
and s190.

 

Under the heading TA expenditure

 

Can you confirm when you ask about costs of interim accommodation, again
can you clarify if you mean under s188 or all duties. 

 

Please do come back and clarify these.

 

In the meantime, I will respond to the rest of the FOI and once I receive
your clarification on the above, I will determine if we are able to answer
them based on the clarification. 

 

Kind regards

 

Miss Claire L Keeling

Housing Solutions Manager

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

 

[7]Open an account to pay bills, report an issue or make an application

[8]Download the My TMBC app for updates on key services

Follow us on [9]Twitter, [10]Facebook and [11]Instagram for the latest
news

[12]A blue and green background with black text Description automatically
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Open an account to pay bills, report an issue or make an application.

https://www.tmbc.gov.uk/myaccount

Download the My TMBC app to get the latest updates straight to your phone.

https://www.tmbc.gov.uk/council/download...

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5. https://www.instagram.com/tmbc.kent/
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We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Wesley Hall please sign in and let everyone know.