Agenda item

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

NB: This is report is also due to be considered by the Community and Children’s Services Committee.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services concerning an anticipated increase in costs associated with fulfilling the City of London Corporation’s statutory duty to assist some homeless households; the increased level of rough sleeping and a proposed increase to the budget to meet those increased demands.

In response to queries about the current helpline, the Committee was advised that it was managed by the GLA and undertook to feedback concerns about the helpline being unavailable when needed.

Reference was made to the homeless needing to be willing to accept help and to the City Corporation working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs to ensure that problems were not pushed from one area to another.

RESOLVED – That, subject to the approval of the Community and Children’s Services Committee, an increase of £195,500 in 2017/18, and a permanent increase of the baseline budget of £427,000 in subsequent years be approved.