Agenda Reports Pack (Public) 15/10/2012, 19.00 - Meetings ...

• The proposals have a built-in incentive for tenants to keep a clearrent account.• Proposed welfare reforms are likely to result in a cessation of directHousing Benefit payments in all but vulnerable cases. This may inany case result in additional bad debt pressures.The effect of the proposals on income and void costs will requirecareful monitoring and revised assumptions are currently being fedinto the business plan. Any impact will not arise until 2014/15 at theearliest as the first 2 year tenancies come up for renewal.6.3 Staffing CostsAs noted above, there will be an increased cost for Housing Services indealing with the renewal of flexible tenancies. This will be factored intothe specification for the MTFS Transformation of Housing Services.Within the Housing Options service there will be some additionalgeneral fund costs in administering a system of review and appealsand the assessment of applicants making a community contribution.Nevertheless, from 2014/15 this should be outweighed by significantGeneral Fund savings in dealing with a reduced number of housingapplicants, albeit seeking to provide them with a more comprehensiveservice.6.4 Transitional and Development CostsThere will be a number of transitional and development general fundcosts in implementing the proposals. These costs will relate toprogramme and project management, resident communication andconsultation, amendments to IT systems and staff training. Thesecosts can be met from the Housing Options reserves agreed for the2012/13 financial year, in particular the amount set aside for the reviewof the Housing Register.7. RISK MANAGEMENT7.1 A separate Risk Log has been raised and will be incorporated into thedepartmental risk register once the final document contents havebeen agreed by the Cabinet Member for Housing and the ExecutiveDirector for Housing & Regeneration. Key risks identified include:- A dependency on Government formally bringing into force certainprovisions, particularly in respect of Homelessness- The need to secure access to additional private sectoraccommodation to deal with the local impact of changes in LocalHousing Allowances and the introduction of Universal Credit in2013.Page 353