Agenda and minutes

Ruby Sayed, Chairman of Community and Children’s Services Committee was in the Chair.

Apologies for absence were received from Natasha Lloyd-Owen.

There were no declarations.

To elect a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29.

Members elected a Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 29.

RESOLVED, that being the only Member willing to serve, Marianne Fredericks be appointed as Chairman of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Sub Committee for the ensuing year.  

To elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30.

Members elected a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 30.

RESOLVED, that being the only Member willing to serve, Tijs Broeke be appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Sub Committee for the ensuing year.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 21 April 2021.

RESOLVED, that the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 21 April 2021 be approved.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members received the Sub-Committee’s outstanding actions list and the following update was noted:

·         The Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Sub-Committee Away Day (Action 17/20/HRS) due to take place on 15 July 2021 would be rescheduled for September 2021 following the extension of COVID-19 restrictions to 19 July 2021.  

RESOLVED, that outstanding actions be noted.

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

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services providing detail on the various City of London interventions funded by the Rough Sleeping Initiative grant for the 2021/22 financial year and the following points were made:

·         The Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) was launched by the Government in March 2018 with the aim of reducing overall rough sleeping numbers in the 83 local authorities with the highest numbers of people sleeping rough, based on the 2017 rough sleeping snapshot.  On 15 May 2021, the City of London Corporation was notified that it would receive a total of £1,028,677 for the 2021/22 financial year.  This was the largest RSI grant allocation to date and would fund 14 different interventions provided by a minimum of eight organisations.  Most interventions would fund new or existing posts, employed directly through the City of London Corporation or via commissioned partners.  It was also planned to fund various accommodation services, specialised services around immigration and talking therapy and a personalisation budget.  Further details of how RSI grant awards for the 2021/22 financial year had been apportioned to local authorities across England would be provided to Committee Members following the meeting.

·         In response to question on the planned Year 4 interventions, the Rough Sleeping Service Manager confirmed that the Mobile Intervention Support Team service had been launched in April 2021.  This service, provided by Thames Reach, offered in-reach support to individuals in temporary accommodation with the aim of stabilising them in accommodation and ensuring they received the right level of health intervention. This service had been funded for a six-month duration and would cease in October 2021; however, consideration could be given to extending the service should there be sufficient client need. 

·         The Chairman noted the new post of EU Advisor and underlined the

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

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services on the growth programme and the following points were made:

• The City of London Corporation’s growth programme was made up of two main elements comprising the City Assessment Centre and High Support Hostel, both of which were being progressed.  Heads of terms were being negotiated with the building owner in respect of the preferred site of the City Assessment Centre, with the provision scheduled to launch in early 2022.  The capital works programme for the High Support Hostel was also being taking forward with the provision on track to open to a small cohort of existing residents of the Carter Lane Hostel in December 2021.  The High Support Hostel was being designed to deliver a Psychologically Informed Environment that would consider the whole individual in their living environment, including previous life experiences, to provide tailored support via a strength-based model. 

• A Committee Member was pleased to note the ambitions for the High Support Hostel and queried whether the refurbishment of the building would take the wider aspirations of the City of London Corporation around environmental sustainability into account.  The Head of the Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Service confirmed that the procurement process for the High Support Hostel had given due weight to environmental considerations and had placed a particular stress on the realisation of social value within the design of the space for clients and staff.

RESOLVED, that the update be noted.

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

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect of rough sleeper data for Quarter 4 2020/21 and the following point was made:

• The total number of rough sleepers in the City of London in Quarter 4 2020/21 was 102 individuals, which represented a 23% decrease on the previous quarter.  This included a 26% decrease in new rough sleepers, individuals returning to sleep rough in the area and long term Living on the Streets clients.  The number of new rough sleepers refusing to engage in support had reduced since Quarter 3 and ten long term Living on the Streets clients had been supported into positive outcomes during Quarter 4.  A total of 94 accommodation outcomes were recorded on the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) which was an increase on the 72 recorded in the previous Quarter and included accommodation in relation to the 29 Severe Weather Emergency Proposal outcomes during the quarter.  Aggregated CHAIN data for the 2020/21 financial year would be released shortly and was expected to show a significant increase in the number of accommodation outcomes on the previous year.  Two individuals had been supported in reconnecting with a local authority with which they were linked. 

• In considering the update, a Committee Member noted that the decrease in those sleeping rough during Quarter 4 2020/21 in the City of London was in line with the neighbouring London Boroughs of Southwark and Tower Hamlets which had seen decreases of 30% and 26% respectively. This was not the experience of some other London Boroughs which had seen increases during the same period.  The Rough Sleeping Service Manager advised that as the rough sleeping population tended to be transient it was often difficult to map and it was possible that there had been some

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

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services on the Homeless Link Immigration Pledge Appeal and the following points were made:

• Homeless Link was a national membership charity for organisations working directly with people who become homeless in England which aimed to improve service provision and campaign for policy change to help end homelessness.  Homeless Link had launched a campaign in opposition to Home Office changes to the Immigration Act in October 2020 and the subsequent code of guidance for which it was seeking support of the voluntary sector, local authorities and public sector bodies.   The Homeless Link Immigration Pledge had been widely adopted by the voluntary sector.  Four local authorities comprising the London Boroughs of Islington, Haringey, Lewisham and Southwark, as well as the Greater London Authority, had also voiced their support for the pledge and their intention not to use the Rough Sleeping Support Service referral mechanism.

• The Committee was asked to consider if it supported Homeless Link’s statement and policy position and the following points were made:

The Commissioner of the City of London Police to be heard.

The Sub-Committee received an update of the Commissioner of the City of London Police and the following points were made:

·         Operation Luscombe had resumed on 28 April 2021.  Since that date, 34 tickets had been issued of which 62% were “green” invites to attend the bi-weekly intervention hub, 26% were “amber” Community Protection Warnings and 9% were Community Protection Notices.  The bi-weekly intervention hub had been held five times since 28 April 2021 with 18 separate attendances by those in receipt of “green” invites, as well individuals who had been directed to the hub by partners. 

·         A further three years of funding had recently been agreed for the bi-weekly intervention hub and would be used to cover venue hire and signage as well as modest refreshments.  A Committee Member expressed interest in attending a future session of the intervention hub and details of upcoming sessions would be provided to Committee Members following the meeting.

RESOLVED, that the update be noted.

There was one question.

A Committee Member highlighted the importance of supporting businesses and residents to work with food banks and other initiatives across the City to reduce food waste and improve the access that homeless and rough sleeping individuals had to healthy food.

There was no other business.

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 Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

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To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 21 April 2021.

RESOLVED, that the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 21 April 2021 be approved.

The Commissioner of the City of London Police to be heard.

The Sub-Committee received a non-public update of the Commissioner of the City of London Police.

There were no non-public questions.

There were two items of other business.