Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Mark Wheatley.

Ruby Sayed (CCS Chair), Munsur Ali (CoL Police Authority Board), and Umer Khan (Safer City Partnership) attended the meeting virtually.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2023.

RESOLVED, that the minutes of the meeting held on 3rd July 2023 be approved subject to the following amendment: -

In Item 7, City of London Police Update, that Criminal Behaviour Orders be replaced with Community Protection Notices.

Matters Arising

City of London Police

Further clarification was sought, following the terminology change, and Members were informed that, at the moment, there is no intention to set a length of time for Community Protection Notices.

‘Daniel’ Safeguarding Adults Review

After, a request for an update, Members were informed that training sessions have been arranged for South London and Maudsley Hospital for late this year or early next year. 

Rough Sleeping on Trains and Buses at Night

Following a question, Members were informed that the Greater London Authority (‘GLA’) have commissioned a dedicated team to carry out casework for those rough sleeping on trains and buses at night.  Last year the GLA carried out 248 shifts, split between 208 on bus routes and 40 on the night tube. They had contact with 197 people in total, 122 of those were new to chain, so they were discovered rough sleeping for the first time on buses or night tubes, 75 were known; and 36 those people received an immediate offer of accommodation on the night. A Member asked for a future presentation on this topic.

Executive Director of Community & Children’s Services to be heard. Presentation by Street Link.

The Sub Committee received a presentation from Home Connections on Street Link, and its new platform updates.

A query was raised regarding using the Street Link App to make referrals during the day. Members were informed that a notification will appear on the screen, but the alert will still be sent. It will be up to the individual local authorities to opt in or out for daytime alerts.  

A member raised concern over not being able to accurately complete the description of an induvial sleeping rough, and raised a question whether a picture could be uploaded instead. Members were informed that the technology is available; however, more research is required to ensure privacy protection is adhered to.

In response to a question, Members were informed that individuals are still able to self-refer. Those self-referring are prompted to go straight to their local councils, with details for out of office contacts provided.  

Members were informed that the FAQ page is currently under construction. It will be published in the next iteration on the system in mid-November and going live in early December.

In response to a question, Members were informed that even though there is no anti-social behaviour, if you suspect an individual to be under 18 years old, the procedure is to contact emergency services. Eighteen is the statutory cut off, and minors have the right to emergency care.

Concerns were raised over the requirement to enter the full postcode. Members were informed that this was a requirement of the current database, and will be changed when Street Link is on its own database. Future additional will also allow users to send a notification from a different location. In the meantime, users are able to use location service to auto populate. Following a request, a link to explain the What

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members considered two revisions to the Sub Committee’s Terms of Reference. First, to alter the Co-Opted External Membership. Second, to decrease the number of meetings to four meetings per year.

Members discussed the importance of having a versatile and diverse skill set represented by Co-Opted External Members. It was noted that the City of London Police are represented by the External Member representing Safer City Partnership, and a current Sub Committee member who also sits on the Police Authority Board. Members also expressed their desire to have a faith-based representative. In response, Members were informed that the City Churches have a reserved External Membership due to the working relationship between officers and the city churches.

In response to a question, Members were informed that by having four meetings a year, this would allow data to be reported more punctually and up to date.

RESOLVED – That the Sub Committee recommend the Community and Children’s Services Committee to approve the update Terms of Reference, noting that:

1.)   The number of Police Authority Board Members be decreased from two to one.

2.)   The number of Co-Opted External Members be increased from two to three.

3.)   The Police Authority Board be given the opportunity to fill a vacant Co-Opted External Membership in the first instance.

4.)    The number of meetings per year decrease from five to four, to align with the production of reports.

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

The Sub Committee received a report of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services on the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2023 to 2027.

Prior to the meeting, the Sub Committee met in person to discuss the strategy’s aims and actions in detail. Following requests from this consultation, Members were informed that the Strategy would include:

·         Types of households that experience homelessness with the context section;

·         Further clarity that the Strategy relates to those who are homeless;

·         Clearly identifying individuals, couples, households with children or without children;

·         Highlighting the very high cost of housing, whether that be to rent or to buy in London and the impact this has on the ability of households to secure affordable quality homes; and

·         Strengthening the theme of health and well-being within the strategy.

A Members raised concern over the importance of improving the employability of former and current rough sleepers.

Members were reminded that setting the strategy and the details of delivery were two different documents.

RESOLVED – That the Sub Committee endorse the Strategy, with the above-referenced amendments, to the Community and Children’s Services for approval.

Report of the City of London Police.

Members received an update of the City of London Police.

Members were informed that there has been an increase in attendance at the hub, for support, help, and food. Police attend the hub, but not in uniform.

In response to a question, Members were informed that approximately 90% of the people begging are also homeless.

A Member raised concerned over the Vagrancy Act of 1824. It was requested a further meeting or presentation to organised for the Sub Committee to discuss this topic in detail.

A member requested an update on the impact of Operation Luscombe and an inequalities impact assessment.  

RESOLVED- That the Sub Committee:

1)    Note the update.

2)    Request a presentation, or further discuss, on the Vagrancy Act.

3)    Request an inequalities impact assessment.

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

The Sub Committee received an update of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services.

RESOLVED – That the Sub Committee note the update.

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

The Sub Committee received an update of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services.

RESOLVED – That the Sub Committee note the update.

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

The Sub Committee received a verbal update of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members were informed that the structural works of the Assessment Centre are extensively now completed and interior construction is in progress. A practical completion was reported of end of December.

RESOLVED – That the Sub Committee note the verbal update.

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

The Sub Committee received an update of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services.

RESOLVED – That the Sub Committee note the update.

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members received a report of the Town Clerk setting out the Sub Committee’s outstanding actions list.

Members were informed that officers would organise a presentation on the Community Drugs Partnership to be scheduled.

RESOLVED – That the Sub Committee:

1.     Note the Report; and

2.     Request Officers to arrange a presentation on the Community Drugs Partnership.

There were no questions.

The December Sub Committee meeting has been cancelled. Members were invited to a site visit to the Rough Sleepers Assessment Centre in place of the meeting.

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

x                                              x

There were no non-public minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2023.

There were none.

The City of London Police to be heard.

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

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

The Sub Committee received a Non-Public update of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services.

RESOLVED – That the Sub Committee note the update.

There were no non-public questions.

There was no other business.