Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Helen Fentimen, Alderman Sheriff Alison Gowman, The Rt Hon. The Lord Mayor Vincent Keaveny (Alderman, Benjamin Murphy, William Pimlott and Henrika Priest.

The Chairman advised that Tijs Broeke, Jillian Reid and Ruby Sayed were attending the meeting virtually.  Whilst the Sub-Committee was a Local Authority Committee, the City Solicitor had confirmed that Members attending virtually were permitted to participate in the meeting as it was non-decision making.

There were no declarations

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 4 October 2021.

With regard to Minute 4: Outstanding Actions, the Head of Homelessness, Prevention and Rough Sleeping advised that at its meeting on 14 October 2021, the Policy and Resources Committee endorsed the Homeless Link Immigration Pledge not to make referrals under new Home Office Immigration rules which made rough sleeping grounds for refusing or cancelling an individual’s leave to remain.  Homeless Link had subsequently been notified of the City of London Corporation’s support for the Pledge.

RESOLVED, that the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 4 October 2021 be approved.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members received the Sub-Committee’s outstanding actions list and the following updates were noted:

·         The proposal to request a Designing Out Crime Officer complete a site survey as part of the design process for the City Assessment Centre (Action 12/21/HRS) had been raised with the Project Group and would be taken forward as the project progressed.

·         A representative of the Drugs Squad – Specialist Operations of the City of London Police would attend the next meeting of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Sub-Committee on 14 February 2022 to lead a wider discussion on the issues of homelessness and drugs (Action 13/21/HRS).  Committee Members were invited to raise any questions they may have for the City of London Police in relation to this work in advance of meeting.

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 in respect of rough sleeping data for Quarter 2 2021/22 and the following point was made:

·         The total number of rough sleepers in the City of London in Quarter 1 2021/22 was 127 individuals, which represented a 38.04% increase on the previous quarter and a 20.95% increase on the same period in 2020/21, although this was still a reduction on the levels of rough sleeping seen prior to the pandemic.  Of these rough sleepers, 44 were identified as new, an increase of 109.5% on the previous quarter, of which 63.6% had not spent a second night out on the street, demonstrating the success of the City of London Corporation’s high assessment accommodation rates but also indicating the transitory nature of rough sleepers moving onto other boroughs before meaningful engagement could be made.  There had been 43 individuals supported into accommodation or reconnection during this period, which was a high rate compared with neighbouring boroughs.  A focus would continue to be placed on supporting individuals who were homeless or rough sleeping into appropriate accommodation moving forward, as well as ensuring new rough sleepers did not spend a second night on the street.

RESOLVED, that the report 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 an update on the Transition Programme and the following points were made:

·         The Transition Programme represented an evolution of the COVID-19 Recovery Plan and included the anticipated decant of the Carter Lane hostel and the progress of delivering two capital projects comprising the City Assessment Service and the High Support Hostel.  The Transition Programme also included winter planning for individuals who were rough sleeping, including the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) arrangements which came into effect when temperatures were forecast to fall below 0°C.  The SWEP had been activated between 26-29 November 2021 with two individuals being accommodated at the Carter Lane hostel, and it was anticipated that further activations would be required as the Winter progressed.

·         In considering the update, a Committee Member noted the 15-week break scheduled between the closure of the Carter Lane hostel and the opening of the City Assessment Service and queried whether contingency arrangements were place should this break be longer than anticipated.  The Head of Homelessness, Prevention and Rough Sleeping confirmed that contingency planning was underway to ensure that individuals continued to have access to appropriate accommodation throughout this period.  This included a funding application to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Winter Pressures Fund for a three-month contract extension for the Mobile Intervention Support Team (MIST), hotel block booking, a funded Anchor House bed and a funded Crimscott No Recourse to Public Funds assessment bed.  The Chairman queried the progress made in supporting homeless individuals who were European Union residents to apply for leave to remain in the United Kingdom.  The Rough Sleeping Coordinator advised that eight applications had been made to date, with more individuals awaiting legal advice on their application.

RESOLVED,

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 a summary of the Private Rented Sector Framework and the following points were made:

·         The City of London Private Rented Sector Move-on Scheme commenced on 1 April 2021 for a four-year period.  The three private rented sector partners participating in the scheme had each committed to sustain a minimum of five tenancies for a minimum of 12 months per annum and were responsible for sourcing a good standard of properties, developing relationships with trusted landlords and supporting clients to sustain their tenancies, including welfare, financial and health support where needed, as well troubleshooting any concerns that could threaten a client’s tenancy, such as rent arrears.  The providers were responsible for sourcing their own landlords and monitoring the quality of accommodation, the minimum standard of which was made clear in the service specification.  During Quarters 1 and 2 of the 2021/22 financial year, 13 individuals had been housed, with 85% sustaining their tenancies to the end of Quarter 2.  Performance against the scheme would be monitored closely, including an annual report to the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Sub-Committee.

·         In response to a question from the Deputy Chair, the Interim Pathway Co-ordinator confirmed that the private rented sector partners comprised two not-for-profit organisations and one housing association of longstanding but varying expertise all of which were committed to developing their services to meet a full range of client need.  Clients were allocated to these partners on a rotational basis rather than on their support needs which supported providers to grow their expertise.  During Quarter 1 and 2, an  average of 74% of referred clients had been accepted by the private rented sector partners with other clients referred to alternative accommodate options which better met their support needs.  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 impact of the Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Social Worker role and the following points were made:

·         The Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Social Worker role had been created to address the need for specialist social work input for clients who were homeless or sleeping rough in the City of London, as well as to act as a bridge between the Adult Social Care Team and the Homelessness Service.  The postholder had started in February 2021 and was currently managing a caseload of 15-20 individuals comprising those sleeping rough, those experiencing homelessness in temporary or hostel accommodation and those at risk of homelessness or who had recently moved into accommodation.  Alongside statutory work, the Social Worker was undertaking a range of non-statutory work for individuals who did not meet the threshold for support under the Care Act 2014, including use of the Adult Social Care Early Intervention pilot and participation in multi-agency meetings. Future planned work included a monthly early shift with the Outreach team, arranging a regular drop-in advice and discussion session with the Outreach and City Assessment Service Teams and building stronger multi-agency links across this service area. 

·         In response to a question from a Member, the Head of Homelessness, Prevention and Rough Sleeping confirmed that this post had been funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as a one-year fixed term contract, but that it was hoped to make it a permanent role as part of a best practice model for other local authorities.  A Committee Member queried how individuals with No Recourse to Public Funds were being supported and the Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Social Worker advised that some individuals qualified for statutory support from other

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

Members received an update of the Superintendent of the City of London Police and the following points were made:

·         Operation Luscombe continued to operate successfully.  Between 1 September and 4 October 2021, 73 tickets had been issued of which 51 were “green” invites to attend the bi-monthly intervention hub, 12 were “amber” Community Protection Warnings and 10 were Community Protection Notices.  Criminal Behaviour Orders were also used where appropriate, such as where individuals were involved in begging; however there had been no Criminal Behaviour Orders issued during this period as the behaviour of individuals had not exceeded the threshold.  At every stage of issuing notices, individuals were invited to attend the bi-monthly intervention hub where they could access homelessness outreach and support services, and a significant proportion of those receiving notices did not come to notice again.  During the Christmas period, an additional night-time hub would be introduced on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, bringing together a range of agencies and St John’s Ambulance representatives to ensure that appropriate support, including a warm, safe space, was available to homeless and rough sleeping individuals.

·         In considering the update, a Committee Member requested clarity around the requirements to apply for a Community Protection Notice or a Criminal Behaviour Order.  Details on this, as well as up-to-date figures for ticketing under Operation Luscombe would be provided to Committee Members following the meeting.  The Committee Member requested that the Committee be notified of any cases due to appear before the Magistrates’ Court seeking a Criminal Behaviour Order and this would be actioned going forward.  The Committee agreed the need for a consistent point of contact at the City of London Police for the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Sub-Committee and the Deputy Chair would follow this up after the meeting.

RESOLVED, that the update

There was one question.

In response to a question from a Committee Member, the Head of Homelessness, Prevention and Rough Sleeping confirmed that co-production would form a key part of the City of London Corporation’s approach to homelessness services moving forward, including representation on the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Sub-Committee by an individual with lived experience of homelessness.

There was one item of other business.

An improved Primary Care offer would be available to individuals who were homeless or rough sleeping from 8 December 2021 via the weekly visits of the Change Please health and wellbeing bus.  This new provision would provide access to a General Practitioner and/or a Prescribing nurse as well as other health-related services for a period of 30 months and would overlap with the existing Doctors of the World provision which would cease on 31 March 2022.  The Government had recently announced plans to increase support for individuals with substance misuse issues, and the Committee requested the Pan-London Commissioning Team for drug and alcohol services for rough sleepers be invited to speak to a future meeting of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Sub-Committee.

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

13-19                                      3

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2021.

RESOLVED, that the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 4 October be approved.

To receive the note of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Sub-Committee Away Day held on 5 October 2021.

RESOLVED, that the non-public note of the Away Day held on 5 October 2021 be approved.

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

The Sub-Committee heard a non-public update of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect of capital projects.

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

The Sub-Committee heard a non-public update of the Director of Community and Children’s Services on the Street Count.

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.

Report of the Commissioner.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Commissioner of the City of London Police providing an overview on Project Adder.

There were no non-public questions.

There was one item of other business.