Agenda item - Rough Sleeping Strategy 2016: Consultation Draft

Report of Acting Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

(1)       That the Housing & New Homes Committee approves the consultation draft of the Rough Sleeping Strategy 2016 (Appendix 1).

(2)       That the Executive Director, Adult Services and the Executive Director, Environment, Development & Housing be authorised to carry out consultation on the draft strategy.

(3)       That it be noted that it is intended for the final strategy to come         back to a new meeting of the Housing and New Homes committee for             formal adoption and permission to implement.

74.1   The Committee considered a report of the Acting Executive Director Environment, Development and Housing which presented the draft Rough Sleeping Strategy 2016 and requested permission to carry out formal consultation to shape the final version that would be brought back for adoption later in the year.  The City’s current approach to rough sleeping was being re-assessed to ensure that the city’s commissioners, service providers and those supporting people sleeping rough worked in partnership to a clear strategic plan.  This plan would reduce rough sleeping in the city and improve outcomes for people sleeping rough and those at risk of rough sleeping.

74.2   The report was presented by the Housing Strategy Manager.   He was accompanied by the Head of Adults Assessment. 

74.3    Councillor Phillips queried why the responsibility for rough sleeping was shared by three different meetings, namely the Housing & New Homes Committee, the Neighbourhoods, Communities & Equalities Committee and the Health & Wellbeing Board.  Councillor Phillips questioned how there could be a city wide approach with such a fractured decision making structure.  Councillor Phillips mentioned that Supporting People (now housing support services) had been a housing services responsibility, which had now been moved to Adult Services.  She considered that it would make more sense to move the service back to Housing Services.  The Housing Strategy Manager stressed that the council was responsible for rough sleeping and this involved housing services, health and adult social care. 

74.4    Councillor Phillips expressed concern about preventative support.  There had been cuts to Housing Support Services and she asked how the council would cope with the increasing numbers of people who needed this service.  The Head of Adult Assessment explained that the council needed to make better use of existing services.  The Acting Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing stressed that prevention would be an essential part of the Rough Sleeping Strategy.

74.5    Councillor Phillips noted that the vision of the strategy was making sure no-one had the need to sleep rough in Brighton & Hove by 2020. She asked for reassurance that it would not be achieved by moving people elsewhere.  The Housing Strategy Manager replied that if someone had moved to Brighton and Hove due to problems such as domestic violence there would be no question of them being re-connected to their family/friends. 

74.6    Councillor Mears asked for more information with regard to what will our strategy achieve? (Paragraph 3.8), specifically 2. Assessment Centre, 3. Multi-agency plan and 5. New accommodation for homeless people with complex needs.  Councillor Mears referred to the Housing Related Support cost benefit analysis.  She agreed with Councillor Phillips remarks about Supporting People.  

74.7    Councillor Mears stated that the council used to have a rough sleeping team.  It concerned her that there was now a housing panel made up of agencies who met once a week.  As a result people were now waiting for up to a week for help.  

74.8    Councillor Mears expressed concern about the reduction of rough sleeper beds and asked for clarification about St Mungo’s using the West Pier hostel with no support.

74.9    The Head of Adults Assessment replied that he had no knowledge of St Mungo’s using the West Pier hostel.  It had not been commissioned by the council.  He acknowledged that there would be a reduction in beds but stressed that the council must make the best use of the available accommodation.  There was a need to create a turnover rather than people remaining in hostel provision.  Moving people on would require support through Adult Social Care & Housing.  It was a joint responsibility.

74.10  The Housing Strategy Manager explained that in relation to paragraph 3.8, it was not known yet where the permanent assessment centre would be situated.  All hostels were being remodelled.  Officers would come back with information on new accommodation for older homeless people.

74.11  Councillor Gibson welcomed the report.  He was slightly reassured on the reconnection issue but stressed that many people had fled friends and families.  He asked if he could be informed of the exceptions to the re-connection policy. Councillor Gibson made a general point about the process of the development strategy and the importance of building on partnership working with Love Activists and listening to the voices of homeless people.  There was a need to have a respectful dialogue and to ‘think out of the box’.  The Housing Strategy Manager replied that the consultation would take place over the next few months and would include dialogue with the Love Activists. 

74.12  Councillor Gibson referred to the table on page 190.  He considered that it would be helpful if there was an official street count.  Councillor Gibson referred to the consultation paper on page 247 – Improving Health.   He was concerned about the last bullet point which related to quality of emergency and temporary accommodation impact on health.  He hoped that officers could look at the standard of temporary accommodation and look at options for making improvements. He had heard of good proactive work in Leeds.    The Acting Executive Director Environment, Development and Housing stated that there could be a briefing on standards in temporary accommodation. 

74.13  Councillor Atkinson noted that the report stated that 61% of rough sleepers had no local connection.  He stressed that it was important to reconnect people to their own communities.  Councillor Atkinson mentioned that he was aware of a mobile phone App called Street Link which enabled people to report rough sleepers.  Councillor Atkinson mentioned that he had witnessed problems shopkeepers were experiencing with people sleeping rough in doorways.  The Housing Strategy Manager replied that officers wanted to engage more with businesses.  He would investigate the Street Link app. 

74.14  Councillor Moonan thanked the officers for the report.  She stressed that the strategy was still a draft and that there was more work to be carried out.  Comments would be taken on board.  She stated that the table on page 190 was confusing and could be improved.  However it did show that numbers of rough sleepers were going up and that pressure was increasing.  There would be a number of consultation events and it was important to speak to rough sleepers.  She suggested that Members could inform her of matters which they would like built into the strategy. 

74.15  At this point in the proceedings, Councillor Mears proposed an amendment which was seconded by Councillor Miller as follows:

          ‘2.1 delete 'the Neighbourhoods, Communities and Equalities          Committee'

          Rewrite (3) so that it reads:

          Note that it is intended for the final strategy to come back to a new meeting of the Housing and New Homes committee for formal          adoption and permission to implement.’

74.16  The Chair stated that either committee could approve the document as there was a cross cutting theme over different functions.

74.17  The Senior Lawyer stated that the Housing and New Homes Committee had overall responsibility for homelessness.  The Neighbourhoods, Communities and Equalities Committee delegations included ‘to coordinate the Council’s policies and actions with the view to reducing and eliminating street homelessness and, in conjunction with the Policy & Resources and Housing and New Homes Committee and the Health & Wellbeing Board, to ensure that appropriate action is taken.’  The constitution stated that ‘Where a function is delegated to more than one Committee or Sub-Committee, any one of those Committees or Sub-Committees may exercise the function.’  The intention had been to present the final strategy to a joint Committee for approval.

74.18  Councillor Moonan stated that the complex joined up strategy involved officers working across teams.  A joint committee would be a visible way of working across the council.  All Members would have voting rights.  The Neighbourhoods, Communities and Equalities Committee also had non-voting external speakers who would contribute important viewpoints. 

 74.19Councillor Hill stressed that as the council faced challenges it needed to work more collaboratively. 

74.20  The Chair considered that the Neighbourhoods, Communities and Equalities Committee should be part of the decision making process.  There was a cross cutting theme to the strategy.  She stressed that these were difficult times with the government withdrawing funds.  There was a need to think more widely on how to deliver services and there needed to be a joined up approach.

74.21  Councillor Miller felt it was strange that there was duplication in the constitution.  Councillor Gibson considered that it would be more helpful if only one committee was responsible for homelessness. 

74.22  Councillor Mears stressed that homelessness was a statutory function of the Housing & New Homes Committee and she wanted to a decision to be made by this committee.  She asked what would happen if there was a joint meeting and the two committees voted different ways.  Who would take the priority?  The Senior Lawyer replied that the constitution was silent on that issue. 

74.23  The Housing Strategy Manager stated that it had been planned to hold a joint meeting on 11 July. 

74.24  At this point Members voted on whether the amendments could be accepted for the substantive vote.  This was agreed by 9 votes in favour and one abstention. 

74.25  The Committee then voted on the amended recommendations. Members voted by 5 votes in favour and 4 against with one abstention.  The amended recommendations were therefore agreed. 

74.26  RESOLVED:-

(1)      That the Housing & New Homes Committee approves the consultation draft of the Rough Sleeping Strategy 2016 (Appendix 1).

(2)      That the Executive Director, Adult Services and the Executive Director, Environment, Development & Housing be authorised to carry out consultation on the draft strategy.

(3)      That it be noted that it is intended for the final strategy to come back to a new meeting of the Housing and New Homes committee for formal adoption and permission to implement