CASH-strapped Southend Council is looking at saving more than a quarter of a million pounds on what it spends on sheltered housing and the homeless in the borough.

The council, which is imposing a 4.99 per cent increase in council tax to offset dwindling Government funding has pledged to save £270,000 in its Transformation of Housing Plans and landlords, charities and housing associations could be footing the bill.

The first of a number of workshops are set to be held next week looking at refining the way the homeless and those in temporary accommodation provided by the council are dealt with.

The council says it will continue to give the support that it is statutorily obliged to give but it will be negotiating with landlords, charities and housing associations to reduce their charges to the council for their services.

Mark Flewitt, councillor responsible for housing, said: "Our whole budget has been about saving from where it is going to hurt the least. We are encouraging providers to do so for less, including landlord and social agencies like Harp. We're encouraging South Essex Homes to have more responsibility for finances, to get more income in and support their users more.

"We have to get more income because once Government funding dries up we will be down to our own earnings on things like car parks and council tax.

"We won't be taking a back seat on homelessness. We do more than our statutory requirements with the homeless but we will be looking at what we can do to provide education for those who come forward to us for assistance. This may be with rent arrears because people can find themselves on the streets if they are evicted for this. They are then deemed to be intentionally homeless but if we can assist them to get help and advice it will help."

The council’s Housing Strategy 2011-2021 also aims to review the sheltered housing stock in the borough to ensure that it meets modern standards and that assets are being used effectively to meet the needs of an ageing population.

Mr Flewitt said: “A key aim of the review is to enable older people to live independently for longer which could achieve savings through avoiding expensive residential care for example, and this works alongside our ongoing transformation of adult social care services.

“As part of the process, a number of workshops are to be held soon with key stakeholders which will progress this work and enable recommendations to be made. We will of course continue to speak to sheltered housing tenants and their families as we move forwards."

Mr Flewitt added: "It is also well documented that the council continues to face increasing pressures within housing, whether that is providing affordable homes for local people, or providing support and accommodation to homeless people in the borough. There have also been a number of recent national legislative changes that we need to consider as part of a refreshed housing strategy for the borough.

“As part of this work we will look at our temporary accommodation provision to ensure that we can provide a service and accommodation that not only meets our statutory obligations, but is financially sustainable for the future.

"I must be very clear to emphasise that we are not talking about taking away temporary accommodation and we are absolutely committed to providing help to those we have a duty to. We will be able to say more about this important area as our work on the Housing Strategy develops.”