Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Anne Corbett, Alderman Bronek Masojada, Eamon Mullally and Mark Wheatley.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 3 October 2022.

RESOLVED – That the public minutes and summary of the meeting held on 3 October 2022 be approved as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING

·       Members’ visit to Grange Road Hostel site – The Chair thanked the Greater London Authority (GLA) for their support for the hostel. She informed Members that there would be a further opportunity for Members to visit the hostel for a formal opening in 2023.

·       Update on the assessment centre – Members were informed that Officers were awaiting the return of the signed copy of the construction contract from the contractor. It was anticipated that the start date would be the first week of February with a handover taking place around September 2023.

·       Update on Grange Road Hostel – Members were informed that the certificate of practical completion had been exchanged between the contractor and St Mungo’s and that the support contract had been exchanged between the City Corporation and St. Mungo’s. It was noted that the service was open for referrals.

In response to a question from the Deputy Chair, Members were informed that there would be a press release for the assessment centre and Grange Road Hostel.

Report of the Town Clerk.

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

·         The homelessness fatality review had been published on the City  Hackeny Safeguarding Adults Board website. The action plan arising from the review would return to the Sub Committee at the April 2023 meeting.

·         The Commander of the City of London Police (CLP) explained that the CLP had not been able to complete a report on the drug supply in the City of London due to resources currently being allocated elsewhere. He stated that CLP would work to complete this in the new year.

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

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

a)    The next hub for Operation Luscombe would take place in the upcoming week. CLP were increasing the ward officer complement from six to 18.

b)    There will be a dedicated officer responsible for homelessness and a second officer to offer support in this space.

In response to a query from the Chair, Members were informed that the next Operation Luscombe hub would take place on 7 December 2022.

RESOLVED - That the update be noted.

Providence Row to be heard.

The Sub Committee received a presentation from Providence Row on its outreach psychotherapy service.

It was noted that clients sometimes discuss sexual abuse with the service. It was queried whether Providence Row would contact the local police in relation to incidents that might meet the threshold for criminal investigation. The Sub Committee was informed that the service was confidential, but that their psychotherapists would always break confidentiality if there was a safeguarding issue. The Sub Committee was also informed that if the client wished to report any abuse then the psychotherapist would support them through this process.

In response to a question, Members were informed that the service offered a total of 24 sessions. Providence Row stated that if the client required long term psychotherapy, then they would ensure that the client was referred to the appropriate service. It was noted that clients could be referred to the service multiple times.

In response to another question, Members were informed that all psychotherapists were at capacity and that new referrals were being added to a waiting list. Members were also informed that Providence Row were exploring expanding the service into other boroughs. It was noted that the service was recruiting for a fourth psychotherapist.

RESOLVED – That the presentation be noted.

Report of the City and Hackney Public Health.

The Sub Committee received a report of the City and Hackney Public Health providing an overview of the pathways and partnership work being undertaken by Turning Point with the criminal justice system in the City of London. It also provided an update on the Rough Sleeper Drug and Alcohol Grant.

In response to a question, the Sub Committee was informed that the City and Hackney Public Health team work to remove barriers that people might face in accessing support. It was explained that the team works with the police to ensure consistent messages are given.

Members were advised that a Fibro Scanner was a device used to detect damage to the liver.

In response to another question, the Sub Committee was informed that while resources are shared across Hackney and the City of London, the City Corporation has its own dedicated team to meet the needs of those within the City.

The Sub Committee was informed that the team has carefully considered how to develop pathways to support. It was noted that this includes ‘inreach’ work and by making remote prescribing available. It was also noted that the assessment centre has ensured that clinical interventions can be offered to those seeking assistance.

The Chair commented on the importance of providing assistance at the point that individuals ask for it. In response to a question from the Chair, the Commander of the CLP informed Members that the CLP do not carry naloxone. It was suggested that implementation of naloxone could be piloted.

RESOLVED – That the report 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 Service providing an update on the City Inn Express, the City of London’s 21-bed temporary assessment service for individuals rough sleeping and in need of off-the-street assessment accommodation.

In response to a query, Members were informed that the service aims to provide information and assistance to its clients regarding their options when they move on from the service. It was noted that it had been anticipated that there would be slightly higher levels of abandonment due to changes in the service.

RESOLVED – That the report 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 providing an update on the 16 Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) interventions that the City Corporation agreed to deliver in 2022 to 2023.

It was noted that the City Corporation had been successful in delivering all but one intervention and that this final RSI intervention was in progress.

The Chair commended the progress made by the City Corporation.

In response to a query from a Member, the Sub Committee was informed that The Passage in Westminster had recently shared a modern-day slavery toolkit, which the City Corporation’s outreach team and commissioning services were utilising. Members were informed that the Women’s Safe Accommodation was a pilot which could be adapted to address client needs as the service develops.

The Sub Committee agreed that the vulnerable victims coordinator could provide a bridge between the City Corporation and the CLP in relation to modern slavery. Officers agreed to make enquiries with the community safety team about this role.

The Sub Committee was reminded of the City Corporation’s modern day slavery strategy and was informed that the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee had requested further information about this work at its previous meeting. The Sub Committee agreed that it should also be provided with this report at a future meeting.

The Sub Committee discussed the importance of raising awareness about the service. Members were informed that Officers would consider the most effective ways of raising awareness to clients when reviewing the website.

In response to a query from a Member, the Sub Committee was informed that the City Corporation meet with the Greater London Authority (GLA) once a month and that they work closely to ensure that all services funded through the GLA are accessible to the City Corporation and

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, which introduced Members to the City of London’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) for rough sleepers for the winter season from 2022 to 2023.

RESOLVED – That the report 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, which provided the draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy for the period 2023 to 2027.

The Chair stated that the draft should be circulated to the Court of Common Council and to City Corporation staff.

The Deputy Chair queried how consultation with residents would take place. A Member suggested sharing the draft during the city-wide consultation events taking place in January and at ward-based events. The Chair noted other mechanisms for circulation were the City Corporation Twitter account and the Church. The Commander of the CLP volunteered to circulate the draft to his business contacts.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Questions were raised as follows –

·         A Member informed the Sub Committee of an increase to rough sleeping on the Barbican Estate. Officers queried if residents knew how to report rough sleepers using the Street Link app. The Sub Committee discussed how to raise awareness of this option and the Deputy Chair raised some concerns regarding the functionality of the app.

·         Noting the increase in begging within the City, a Member queried if there was any action that the Sub Committee could take. The Commander of the CLP explained that Officers who would address begging in the City were being asked to assist with different areas of work, for example the night time economy. The Commander informed Members that he would feed back the Sub Committee’s concerns to the CLP.

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.

Item no                             Para no

15, 17                                3

To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2022.

RESOLVED – That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2022 be approved as a correct record.

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

There was no non-public update from the City of London Police.

There were no non-public questions.

There was one item of urgent business.