Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Steve Goodman OBE and Shravan Joshi MBE.

There were no declarations of interest.

To elect a Deputy Chairman in accordance with Standing Order 26 (6).

RESOLVED – That, in accordance with Standing Order 26 (6), Deborah Oliver being the only Member indicating their willingness to serve, was elected Deputy Chairman for the ensuing year.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 3 February 2025.

RESOLVED – That, the public and non-public summary of the minutes of the meeting held on 3February 2025 be agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services concerning a draft summary of the interventions that will be delivered by the City of London, through the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant for the period of 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

Members were reminded that this grant replaces the former Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI), which had been in place for seven years, with the last three years delivered as a single three-year settlement. The RSPRG for 2025/26 will be issued as a single Section 31 ring-fenced payment, totalling £1,373,509 for the City of London—broadly in line with the previous year’s RSI allocation Officers noted that the new funding structure provides greater flexibility in how the grant is deployed, with no co-production process required with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The draft plan, included in the report, outlines proposed interventions across prevention, outreach, accommodation, and recovery services. Members were advised that the plan remains subject to change as further operational details are confirmed.

In response to Member questions, officers clarified the following:

• The City of London continues to experience a disproportionately high level of rough sleeping due to its central location and perceived safety. While earlier RSI allocations were formula-based, recent funding has been more reliant on the quality and impact of local proposals.
• There is a possibility that future funding streams may consolidate the RSPRG with the Homelessness Prevention Grant (HPG), which operates under a more complex formula.
• The proposed winter crash accommodation model aims to complement the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) by smoothing service delivery across the colder months. Officers confirmed that access to such services would remain tightly gatekept to verified rough sleepers, and there is no evidence to suggest that such provision increases inward migration.
• Members discussed

Report of the Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services concerning a summary of temporary accommodation (TA) usage under s.188 and s.193 of the Housing Act 1996 and on a discretionary basis as a measure for the relief of rough sleeping.

Officers noted the report outlined the use of temporary accommodation (TA) during the 2024/25 financial year, including legal frameworks, household compositions, and current operational status. A total of 164 households were placed in TA, all within Greater London. Notably, no children were accommodated in bed and breakfast settings. Over half of the placements were made on a discretionary basis, with the remainder under statutory obligations. The total cost of providing TA amounted to £1,716,131—an increase of £686,175 compared to the previous year.

The following points were noted:

• Early Intervention and Prevention: A Member raised concerns about the need for alternative approaches to prevent homelessness, particularly for families with children, to avoid disruption to education and social networks. Officers responded that statutory duties include mediation and eviction prevention, while discretionary placements are used to ensure safety. TA is also employed to support rough sleeping relief, which is recognised as good practice by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
• Housing Market Challenges: Officers highlighted the challenges posed by high private rental costs and limited availability of social housing, which contribute to extended stays in TA. Collaborative efforts are underway with other authorities to improve access to private sector housing.
• Social Housing Allocation: In response to a question raised by a Member about alignment between social housing allocation and homelessness services, officers confirmed that ongoing reviews and collaboration with housing colleagues are in place, particularly to support vulnerable groups such as care leavers.
• Prison Release Coordination: A Member raised the issue of early

Report of the Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services concerning narrative and analysis on the City of London’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) 2024/2025.

Officers noted that this year, there were six SWEP activations between September and April, covering a total of 27 days. During this period, 82 unique individuals accessed SWEP services, resulting in 94 placements—the highest number recorded to date. Despite the increased outreach and activations (double that of the previous year), the uptake of services was lower. The ability to offer long-term accommodation solutions was also reduced due to limited capacity among City officers and commissioned services.

Members discussed the importance of signposting individuals to additional services, particularly during winter. Members also highlighted the role of community shelters such as Hackney Night Shelters and shared personal experiences of volunteering and supporting rough sleepers. Officers confirmed that early-stage planning is underway for winter shelter provision, potentially in partnership with local churches, drawing on successful models from neighbouring boroughs.

The Sub-Committee noted a continued rise in rough sleeping numbers, despite milder winters. Officers attributed this to broader systemic issues such as the cost-of-living crisis, housing shortages, and cuts to adult social care. Members raised concerns about individuals who are employed but still rough sleeping due to affordability and immigration-related ineligibility for housing support. The complexity of these cases was acknowledged, particularly for those with no recourse to public funds.

Members shared observations from street outreach, noting that many individuals refused shelter even during extreme cold. Questions were raised about the consistency of such refusals and the operational challenges of securing accommodation on short notice. Officers clarified that while adult social care funding is a national issue, the City of London has maintained a progressive approach, including deploying social workers alongside outreach teams to conduct Care Act

Report of the Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services concerning a summary of progress against the aims set out in the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2023–2027.

RESOLVED – That, the report be noted.

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:

The following points were noted:

• The Chief Inspector provided an update on Operation Luscombe, which addresses begging in the City through a traffic light escalation system. A review identified the need for more frequent welfare support, prompting a shift to a more flexible, daily model.
• The Luscombe tickets are being redesigned to improve accessibility and clarity, including multilingual support.
• A multi-agency working group has been established to address risks associated with encampments and rough sleeping. Monthly operations now remove hazardous materials while maintaining a welfare-first approach.
• The largest encampment is at Castle Baynard, and efforts are focused on removing unused tents and balancing support for rough sleepers with community safety.
• Members raised concerns about resident safety and antisocial behaviour. The Chief Inspector encouraged reporting via 101 and welcomed direct contact for broader concerns.
• A specific case at St John’s Court was acknowledged as under active review.

RESOLVED - That, the update be noted.

There were no questions.

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

The public were not excluded.

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

There was no update.

There were no non-public questions.

There was no other business.