Agenda item

Rough Sleeping Initiative Programme 2022-2025

Decision:

RESOLVED:

KEY DECISION

That the Executive:

a) Approved the allocated spend of the Rough Sleeper Initiative Funding 2022-2025 as detailed in paragraph 4.21 (figure 8) of the report

b) Noted the detail of how the allocated funding will be spent as set out from 4.22 to 4.36 of the report

c) Delegated authority to the Executive Member for Housing, Communities and Levelling Up, in liaison with the Executive Director for Adults, Communities and Wellbeing, to take any further decisions and actions required to enable delivery of the Rough Sleeping Initiative programme

Reasons for Recommendations:

· To ensure that the Council and its partners can sustain and build upon the success to date in reducing rough sleeping and supporting individuals experiencing rough sleeping

· To safeguard this vulnerable cohort of adults who are often experiencing multiple exclusion homelessness

Alternative Options Considered:

· To not submit a funding application to the Rough Sleeping Initiative programme 2022-2025

· To submit a funding application to the Rough Sleeping Initiative programme 2022-2025 that included a different schedule of activities and proposals

Minutes:

The Chair invited Cllr Dorothy Maxwell to address the meeting. Cllr Maxwell welcomed the award of over £2m in Government funding to assist the Council in its work regarding rough sleeping but called for additional training for staff in assisting homeless people to understand their rights and access advice.

Cllr Matt Binley, Executive Member for Housing, Communities and Levelling Up thanked Cllr Maxwell for her comments and, in the absence of Cllr Valerie Anslow, noted her support for the contents of the report.

Cllr Binley then introduced a report that sought to brief the Executive on the Rough Sleeping Initiative 2022-2025 (RSI5) grant award as well as seeking approval to deliver the programme of activities detailed in the original funding bid.

It was heard that the Council had made significant progress in 2021/22 in reducing levels of rough sleeping by offering support and accommodation to those in need as well as through the hard work and dedication of officers. It was noted that as part of the funding application process, several partner organisations were consulted as part of the Council’s self-assessment to ensure a comprehensive and balanced submission that captured the views and experiences of a wide variety of stakeholders. This process had identified that the weakest aspect of the Council’s work across four key objectives was in relation to prevention, and therefore this would be a focus for proposed RSI5 activities.

The Council had been successful in its funding bid, being awarded £2.185m for a three-year period covering 2022-25. Alongside a £115,000 Rough Sleeper Intervention Fund to allow for creative resolutions to rough sleeping, the funding would be utilised to continue and increase staff capacity dedicated to supporting rough sleepers to access and sustain accommodation and related support (£1,368,015). In addition, funding would be used to ensure the continued financial viability, and potential expansion through recommissioning of the delivery of supported accommodation options for rough sleepers (£702,070).

The meeting noted that this funding formed part of the Government's strategy to eliminate rough sleeping by 2024, with the Council’s rough sleeping team continuing to build on success in this regard despite facing significant external challenges.

Cllr Binley concluded by noting the support of the Health, Wellbeing and Vulnerable People Executive Advisory Panel (EAP), with the Chair acknowledging the impact of cross-party EAPs.

Cllrs Harrison, Brackenbury and Lawman all spoke to welcome the report and funding award, noting the opportunity to improve the Council’s prevention objective.