Cofnod Datgeliadau

Cwestiwn

Procedures

4 Please estimate the overall percentage of homelessness decisions which are informally

re-considered after they have been initially issued (i.e. non-statutory re-considerations):

5 Is the formal review conducted by:

A single person (please answer follow-up questions that appear)

A panel (please answer follow-up questions that appear)

6a If a single person, who is responsible for conducting the review?

Councillor

Senior Officer

Dedicated Reviews Officer

External Person

6b If external, please specify:

6c Has this changed since 2014?

Yes

No

6d If yes, why was this change introduced?

7a If conducted by a panel, is this made up of:

All officers

All councillors

All external persons

Councillor(s) and external person(s)

Councillor(s) and officer(s)

Other (please specify)

7b Has this changed since 2014?

Yes

No

7c If yes, why was this change introduced?

7d If a panel is used, how often does it meet to make its decisions?

2 or more times a month

Once a month

Less than once a month

Other (please specify)

8 If councillors are used, what criteria are used for their appointment?

9 What is the primary method of conducting the review offered to the applicant?

Orally

In writing

Other (please specify)

10 In what proportion of reviews are applicants represented?

75 - 100%

50 - 74%

25 - 49%

0 - 24%

11 Of those reviews where the applicant was represented, in what proportion were the

representatives lawyers?

75 - 100%

50 - 74%

25 - 49%

0 - 24%

12 Do you continue to provide temporary accommodation to those applicants who request a

formal review of their decision?

Always

Usually

Often

Occasionally

Never

Numbers and Outcomes of Reviews

It would assist our research if you could provide us with statistical details of the

number of internal review decisions which your authority has made over the 6 months

between 1st July-31st December 2025, broken down by type of decision as well as

the overall number of people seeking an internal review. If you are unable to give

exact figures or precise estimates, we are still interested in your best estimates.

13 How many applications for review did you have between 1st July – 31st December 2025?

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

More than 65

Please enter the exact number of applications for review if known:

14 How many requests for a review were withdrawn during that period?

15 Between 1st July – 31st December 2025, how many review applications related to each

of the following categories:

Eligibility (Optional)

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

Homelessness

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

Priority Need

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

Intentionality

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

Local Connection

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

Suitability

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

Reasonable steps

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

The prevention duty is not owed or has come to an end

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

The interim accommodation duty is not owed or has come to an end

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

The relief duty is not owed or has come to an end

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

Decision to end duty for other reasons (e.g. cease to be eligible, becoming intentionally

homeless from temporary accommodation, accepts an offer of assured tenancy from

private landlord, or voluntarily ceases to occupy as only or principal home) (Optional)

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

16a Since 2014, has the number of applications for review

changed?

Significant reduction

Fair reduction

About the same

Fair increase

Significant increase

16b If there is any discrepancy, how do you explain this?

17 How many decisions were changed as a result of the internal review between 1st July –

31st December 2025?

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

Between 1st July – 31st December 2025, how many decisions were changed in relation

to each of the following categories?

Eligibility

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

Homelessness

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

Priority Need

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

Intentionality

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

Local Connection

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

Suitability

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

Reasonable Steps

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known

The prevention duty is not owed or has come to an end

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

The interim accommodation duty is now owed or has come to an end

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

The relief duty is not owed or has come to an end

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

Decision to end duty for other reasons (e.g. cease to be eligible, becoming intentionally

homeless from temporary accommodation, accepts an offer of assured tenancy from

private landlord, or voluntarily ceases to occupy as only or principal home)

0

Less than 5

6-15

16-25

26-40

41-65

Greater than 65

Please enter exact number if known:

18a Since 2014 , has the number of decisions which have been changed as a result of a review altered?

Significant reduction

Fair reduction

About the same

Fair increase

Significant increase

18b If there is any discrepancy, how do you explain this?

19 How many applications for review were subject to the oral review procedure (Reg 5(2))

between 1st July – 31st December 2025 because, although an error has been found, the

authority want to uphold the decision? (

Of those, in how many cases was the decision to uphold maintained following the review?

20 How many applicants sought to appeal to the county court against the decision made on a

review between 1st July – 31st December 2025?

Of those who applied to the county court, how many proceeded to full judgment?

Your Experience of Internal Reviews

21 What impact does the practice of internal review have on the general quality of initial

decision-making in your authority?

Improves quality a lot

Improves quality a fair amount

Improves quality a little

No impact

Decreases quality a little

Decreases quality a fair amount

Decreases quality a lot

Please explain your answer (for example, how does the process impact on initial decision

making?): (

22 To what extent (if at all) does legal representation improve the internal review applicant's

chances of having the original decision changed?

Always

Usually

Often

Occasionally

Never

If legal representation does improve the applicant's chances (i.e. you have ticked either

occasionally, often, usually or always), please explain why you think this is the case:

23 Other comments (please use this section for any other comments about the review

process which have not been elicited from the above questions):

Ateb

1 Which authority do you work for? (NB all responses will be anonymised.

Merthyr Tydfil council

2 What is the size of your housing stock?

No Stock

Procedures

4 Please estimate the overall percentage of homelessness decisions which are informally

re-considered after they have been initially issued (i.e. non-statutory re-considerations):

0 all review requests will be dealt with in line with legislation and thus will become statutory.

5 Is the formal review conducted by:

A panel (please answer follow-up questions that appear)

6a If a single person, who is responsible for conducting the review?

Councillor

Senior Officer

Dedicated Reviews Officer

External Person

N/A

6b If external, please specify:

6c Has this changed since 2014?

No

7a If conducted by a panel, is this made up of:

All officers

All councillors

All external persons

Councillor(s) and external person(s)

Councillor(s) and officer(s)

Other (please specify)

7b Has this changed since 2014?

Yes

No

7c If yes, why was this change introduced?

7d If a panel is used, how often does it meet to make its decisions?

When and if a statutory review is received within the timeframes outlined in legislation.

8 If councillors are used, what criteria are used for their appointment?

N/A

9 What is the primary method of conducting the review offered to the applicant?

Orally

In writing

10 In what proportion of reviews are applicants represented? When a legal review is received and clients are represented, it is usually by Shelter Cymru. I am unable to provide percentage as we do not record this information.

11 Of those reviews where the applicant was represented, in what proportion were the: representatives’ lawyers?

At a legal review stage if represented by Shelter Cymru they are case workers and not Solicitors. Solicitor and or Barristers are only provided if the case has to go before the court for a judicial review.

12 Do you continue to provide temporary accommodation to those applicants who request a

formal review of their decision?

Occasionally

Numbers and Outcomes of Reviews

It would assist our research if you could provide us with statistical details of the

number of internal review decisions which your authority has made over the 6 months

between 1st July-31st December 2025, broken down by type of decision as well as

the overall number of people seeking an internal review. If you are unable to give

exact figures or precise estimates, we are still interested in your best estimates.

13 How many applications for review did you have between 1st July – 31st December 2025?

0

14 How many requests for a review were withdrawn during that period? N/A

15 Between 1st July – 31st December 2025, how many review applications related to each

of the following categories:

Eligibility (Optional) Nil

Homelessness Nil

Please enter exact number if known:

Priority Need Nil

Intentionality Nil

Local Connection Nil

Suitability Nil

Reasonable steps Nil

The prevention duty is not owed or has come to an end / Nil

The interim accommodation duty is not owed or has come to an end /Nil

The relief duty is not owed or has come to an end Nil

Decision to end duty for other reasons (e.g. cease to be eligible, becoming intentionally

homeless from temporary accommodation, accepts an offer of assured tenancy from

private landlord, or voluntarily ceases to occupy as only or principal home) (Optional)

Nil

16a Since 2014, has the number of applications for review

changed?

About the same

17 How many decisions were changed as a result of the internal review between 1st July –

31st December 2025? Nil

Between 1st July – 31st December 2025, how many decisions were changed in relation

to each of the following categories?

Eligibility Nil

Homelessness Nil

Priority Need Nil

Suitability Nil

Reasonable Steps Nil

The prevention duty is not owed or has come to an end/Nil

The interim accommodation duty is now owed or has come to an end /Nil

The relief duty is not owed or has come to an end /Nil

Decision to end duty for other reasons (e.g. cease to be eligible, becoming intentionally

homeless from temporary accommodation, accepts an offer of assured tenancy from

private landlord, or voluntarily ceases to occupy as only or principal home) Nil

18a Since 2014 , has the number of decisions which have been changed as a result of a review altered?

Significant reduction

18b If there is any discrepancy, how do you explain this? With the ‘all in approach’ during the covid pandemic and Welsh Government’s drive towards rapid rehousing, LA have been working in a trauma informed way to work with applicants around their homelessness looking at all viable hosing options.

19 How many applications for review were subject to the oral review procedure (Reg 5(2))

between 1st July – 31st December 2025 because, although an error has been found, the

authority want to uphold the decision. 0

Of those, in how many cases was the decision to uphold maintained following the review? 0

20 How many applicants sought to appeal to the county court against the decision made on a

review between 1st July – 31st December 2025? 0

Of those who applied to the county court, how many proceeded to full judgment? 0

Your Experience of Internal Reviews

21 What impacts does the practice of internal review have on the general quality of initial

decision-making in your authority?

Improves quality a fair amount

Please explain your answer (for example, how does the process impact on initial decision

making?): It impacts on internal decisions by providing quality assurance work and scrutiny on case work undertaken.

22 To what extent (if at all) does legal representation improve the internal review applicant's

chances of having the original decision changed.

Occasionally

If legal representation does improve the applicant's chances (i.e. you have ticked either

occasionally, often, usually or always), please explain why you think this is the case:

Clients who have support to represent their views wishes and opinions at a review benefit from the response being coordinated and submitted with in the legal timeframes. Thise applicants who are not represented often disengage with the process.

23 Other comments (please use this section for any other comments about the review

process which has not been elicited from the above questions): None