Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Henrika Priest and Mark Wheatley.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 4 July 2022.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 4 July 2022 be approved as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING

·       Members’ visit to Grange Road Hostel site – The Chair noted that the visit scheduled for September had been postponed and queried when a visit for the Sub Committee would be arranged. Members were informed Officers would work on establishing a date.

·       Update on the website – Members wereinformed that the homelessness website pages had been updated and were invited to provide feedback on the changes.

Members are asked to note the Sub-Committee’s outstanding actions.

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

·       The Commissioner of the City of London Police to bring report and lead discussion on the drug supply in the City of London to the next meeting on 30 November.

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

Members received an update of the Commissioner of the City of London Police (CLP) and the following points were made:
          

a)    Operation Luscombe has been updated so that police officers now issue notices the day before the hub so that there is a shorter time frame between notices being issued and attendance at the hub.

b)    CLP have continued to hold meetings British Transport Police (BTP). CLP need to provide further training and confirm which platform they are going to use.

c)     CLP have explored expanding Operation Luscombe and sharing it with partners. Members were informed that Southwark Borough have agreed that they would like to run Operation Luscombe. They are yet to determine a location for their hub.

In response to a query from a Member, the Sub Committee was informed that 17 tickets of all colours had been issued during September representing a slight rise from August.

RESOLVED - That the update be noted.

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

The Sub Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services. The report presented data, analysis and a brief narrative related to rough sleeping in the City of London (CoL) based on the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) Annual Summary for 2020/21, with reference to previous annual CoL data, and neighbouring borough comparisons.

In response to a query from a Member, the Sub Committee was informed that there had been a further decrease in rough sleeping in the first quarter of 2022.

In response to another question, the Sub Committee was informed that the long-term impact of the cost of living crisis on rough sleeping was still emerging, but that the City Corporation’s statutory service - where the work on preventing rough sleeping takes place - had been experiencing an increase in utilisation. It was suggested that this information provides a useful forecast for the next 24 months. Members’ attention was drawn to the latest government strategy on rough sleeping, which introduced a new framework for the prevention of rough sleeping that is likely to feature in the City Corporation’s future homelessness and rough sleeping strategy.

A Member noted that those presenting as homeless or rough sleepers within the City of London may not have originated from within the City. The Member queried how a prevention strategy would target those individuals. It was noted that the City Corporation has a responsibility to those employed within the City and that work in preventing homelessness, such as by providing advice and guidance, is ongoing on a daily basis. It was also noted that partnering with local boroughs was invaluable in assisting those homeless and rough sleepers who cross boroughs.

In response to a question from a Member, the Sub Committee was informed that there are

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

The Sub Committee received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services providing a summary of activity undertaken by the City of London Statutory Homelessness Team between April 2018 and March 2022. The report offered a high-level demonstration of the impact of the Homelessness Reduction Act (2017), in particular the new duties to prevent and relieve homelessness, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Officers agreed to explore providing the data in a digitalised format.

The Chair stated that it would be useful to receive case studies alongside this report to demonstrate the referral pathways between the City Corporation and other local authorities and their respective ongoing responsibilities to users of the service. The Chair stated that case studies would also demonstrate how effectively users could navigate the system and provide the opportunity for user feedback. The Sub Committee was informed that housing applicants can feedback to the local authority they have approached.

In response to a question from a Member, the Sub Committee was informed that households with children approaching the service are automatically prioritised. If these households are moved into temporary accommodation, the service will offer housing which provides suitable access to education and/or employment.

In response to another question from a Member, the Sub Committee was informed that the City Corporation’s children’s services would lead on rehousing care-leavers.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.

The Director of Community and Children’s Services to be heard.

The Sub Committee received a verbal update from the Director of Community and Children’s Services and the following points were made:

a)    The current aim is to publish the new strategy by June 2023.

b)    Officers are currently exploring the best ways to engage service users.

c)    It is anticipated that a draft strategy document will be presented to the Sub Committee at the next meeting.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

There were no questions.

The following items of urgent business were raised –

·       In response to a request from the Chair, the Sub Committee was updated on the progress of the hostel and assessment centre:

o   Update on the hostel
Members were informed that the annex required a separate energy meter to the main building. Due to current problems in the energy sector, a meter cannot be installed in the annex in time for a November opening. As such, the main building will open in November and the annex will open when the second meter can be secured.

o   Update on the assessment centre

Work with Members had been completed to ensure that there was a fully funded package and it was anticipated that contracts would be awarded on time on Friday 7 October.

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.

Item no                              Para no

13                                       1

15                                       3

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2022.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2022 be approved as a correct record.

Report of Independent Chair of the Safeguarding Adults Board.

The Sub Committee received a report of the Independent Chair of the Safeguarding Adults Board.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

There was no non-public update from the Commissioner of the CLP.

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 updating Members on the proposal to deliver an assessment centre for homeless people in the City.

There were no non-public questions.

There was no other business.