Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Mary Durcan and Dhruv Patel.

There were no declarations.

Members are asked to note that the Chairman of the Community and Children’s Services Committee (the Parent Committee) will serve as Deputy Chairman of the Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Committee.

The Sub Committee proceeded to elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29.

RESOLVED, that - being the only Member willing to serve, Marianne Fredericks be elected as Chairman of the Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Sub Committee for 2018/19

Since publication of the agenda, the Chairman of the Grand Committee had decided to waive his right to serve as Deputy Chairman of the Sub Committee and Members therefore elected a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30.

RESOLVED, that - being the only Member willing to serve, Tijs Broeke be elected as Deputy Chairman of the Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Sub Committee for 2018/19.

On taking the Chair, Ms Fredericks thanked Members for their support in driving this important agenda.  The Chairman suggested a Member/Officer Awayday, to set a framework for future agendas and a strategy to achieve the Sub Committee’s objectives.  The Director suggested that this should include the nature and frequency of future reports.  Members and Officers acknowledged the need to firm up a communications strategy; covering SWEP, hubs and responsible donations.  Members also agreed that an ‘action tracker’ should be a standing agenda item at each Sub Committee meeting.

Members noted that the Safer City Partnership was due to meet at the end of the month and would nominate a Member for the Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Sub Committee.  The Sub Committee also needed to appoint a Church representative and up to 2 co-optees; officers suggested that potential nominees could be considered at the forthcoming awayday. 

Finally, the Chairman was pleased to note that 2 Members of the Police Committee were also Members of this Sub Committee and a Police Officer was in attendance.  Members stressed the importance of consistent representation from external agencies, to ensure the continuity of partnership work.  The Chairman welcomed

Members are asked to note the Report to the Town Clerk, to the Community and Children’s Services Committee of 8 June 2018, approving the Sub Committee’s Terms of Reference.

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services, seeking to establish a Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Sub Committee and setting its terms of reference.  approved by the Community and Children’s Services Committee in June this year.

In respect of the frequency of meetings, the Chairman was keen to hold the Away Day as soon as possible with a further meeting of the Sub Committee before the end of the year.  A further 2 meetings in early 2019 were suggested and, when the Grand Committee met in the Spring of 2019 for its annual review of Sub Committees, members review the work of the Sub Committee and take a decision on its frequency going forward. 

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

 Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services, seeking to establish a Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Sub Committee and setting its Terms of Reference.  The report had been approved by the Community and Children’s Services Committee in June this year.

In respect of the frequency of meetings, the Chairman stressed the importance of holding the Away Day as soon as possible, with a further meeting of the Sub Committee before the end of the year.  A further 2 meetings in early 2019 were suggested and, when the Grand Committee met in the Spring of 2019 to consider its Annual Review of Sub Committees, Members would have an opportunity to review the work of the Sub Committee and take a decision on the long-term frequency of meetings.

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services which informed them of the level and nature of homelessness and rough sleeping activity within he City of London Corporation during Quarter 1 of 2018/19.

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a report and presentation of the Director of Community and Children’s Services and Gill Leng (specialist consultant), which presented the findings of an assessment of health care provision for those sleeping rough in the City of London.  Gill Leng  was pleased to give this presentation to the first meeting of the Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Sub Committee and commended its timeliness in respect of the Government’s strategy and funding.

During the discussion and questions, the following points were noted:

•           The City Corporation were commended for being the first in London to be looking at this work in detail.  Officers advised that a number of the recommendations set out in the report were already in hand and Members asked for an update on what was being implemented.

•           Ms Leng agreed to provide information on the ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ network and Members noted that Government funding had been allocated to assist clients in this situation.  Members noted that the CBT had provided a grant to one of the charities which supported this group and discusses how the situation could intensify with Brexit and a lack of ‘settled status’.  Officers suggested a report to the Sub-Committee on the Legal Frameworks behind ‘No recourse to Public Funds’. 

•           Members noted that a CCG nurse and mental health practitioner visited the hubs and hostels.  A Members suggested the provision of flu jabs as part of the work of the mobile facility, for those clients willing to receive the vaccination.  Members also noted the success of the Street Triage project, which employed a specialist mental health nurse.

•           Officers were meeting with the Care Commissioning Group in respect of a Multiple Needs Exclusion Project.  Members noted that a ‘Housing First’ model for chaotic groups had been successful.

•           The substance

Chief Inspector, Communities and Partnerships, City of London Police.

 Members received a report of the Commissioner, City of London Police, which provided an updated on the latest tactic to address begging within the City of London, known as Operation Luscombe. 

During the discussion and questions, the following points were noted:

• The success of this ‘soft intervention’ programme, which sought to assist those in genuine need and only instigate criminal proceedings to repeat offenders in organised ‘gangs’.  Members noted that, whilst such gangs did not operate on a large scale, the City was considered lucrative and City workers were known for their generosity.  Members acknowledged the importance of channelling this for best impact.   The Officer advised that begging intelligence had improved considerably since June and suggested it was in decline. 

• The Officer accepted that the media aspects of Operation Luscombe had been somewhat lacking and this would be remedied at the next review meeting.    The Police encouraged the public to ‘tweet’ information about begging hotspots and Members noted the recent success at Bishopsgate.  Members asked to be kept informed, so they could advise constituents as to the best course of action, and suggested this be the subject of a Members’ Breakfast Briefing.

• The Police Officer commended the generosity of local businesses; i.e. Pret, McDonalds and Marks and Spencer who had provided breakfasts at the hubs.  The Officer also accepted that some store staff might lack knowledge/confidence when approaching and offering assistance.  Members suggested writing to Supermarket Head Offices to offer advice and support.

• British Transport Police would be offering more intervention in the Liverpool Street area and a Manager had visited one of the hubs.

• Members suggested that the Vagrancy Act be challenged and that a member of the Remembrancers’ Team be invited to attend the Awayday. 

• Members were very keen for this work to remain on the Police’s

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect of the current Homelessness Strategy, the Homelessness Reduction Act and the current project plan for developing the Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Strategy for 2019-2022.

Further to discussions earlier on the agenda, officers advised that the forthcoming Away Day would further inform the strategy.  Officers advised that, whilst the City Corporation’s statutory requirements covered the geographical area of the Square Mile, Officers had invited the team at Epping Forest to join the City Corporation’s Rough Sleepers Strategy Group. 

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

 Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect of a proposal to run an alternative giving awareness campaign, to support the most vulnerable people on the City Streets in the most effective way. 

During the discussion and questions the following points were noted:

Members commended the draft marketing material appended to the report, which had been developed by the Working Party.  A Member suggested that contact numbers be included. 

Members suggested a simple strapline under the City of London Corporation Logo; i.e. ‘off the streets is not the end’.  The messages should be concise, simple and quickly digestible at transport hubs etc.     Members noted that officers had been working with the GLA and London Councils and there was a further suggestion to consult the Government’s Behaviour Science Team.

The next report would provide more detail on the metrics and efficiencies of giving via Tap London. 

The previous campaign ‘Do not Kill with Kindness’ had been perceived as negative by some service users and professionals as it stereotyped homeless clients and sent a negative message to whose willing to assist.  Members noted how some clients welcomed practical help and assistance rather than ‘small change’.

The importance of engagement with local food retailers was acknowledged and the Police Officer advised of the Police’s Day of Action at the end of November.  The Police had established a strong Business Engagement Team and offered to work with the City Corporation.

Officers agreed to circulate information from the Wales Study and executive summaries of the Care and Vagrancy Acts

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

There were no questions.

There were no items.

MOTION – that, under Section 100(a) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act

RESOLVED - That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of the Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Item                                                                 Paragraph

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There were no questions while the public were excluded.

There were no items.