Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Ruby Sayed.

Deputy Shravan Joshi, Judith Pleasance, and Alpa Raja attended the meeting virtually.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 4 March 2024.

The minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 4 March 2024 were agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Town Clerk.

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

RESOLVED – That the Sub Committee note the report.   

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

The Sub Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services on Operation Luscombe, updating on the services and impact of the hub.

Members were informed that this review analysed the effectiveness, practicalities, and helpfulness of the hub to those rough sleeping and homeless in The City. The majority of the attendants to the hub are those begging in The City, of which only 20% are rough sleeping or homeless in The City. Therefore, the Sub Committee must review its support of the hub and the best means forward to provide the best support for those who are rough sleeping and homeless, not just begging in The City.

Concerns were raised about the outreach to those rough sleeping and homeless in The City and what communication and actions are being made to collaborate with the City of London Police in reaching out to these individuals. Members were informed that whilst the hub works for the City of London Police, it does not provide a clinical assessment, and therefore those with vulnerabilities can only be assisted if they chose to disclose such information.  A drug and alcohol outreach programme are present and available for those who which to take it up on their own accord.

In response to a question, Members were informed that beggars can receive a substantive amount of cash. However, there is no easy was to prevent members of the public from distributing their cash to beggars.

Members were reminded that many of those attending the hub are not eligible for the services offered, as they are neither rough sleeping nor homeless in The City. Therefore, by attending the hub they are being prevented from accessing services that could benefit them. The focus of the Sub Committee is Homelessness and Rough Sleeping and not begging

Report of the City of London Police.

The Sub Committee received an update of the City of London Police.

Members were informed that over 300 new polices have started in the past few years and they need to be updated and educated on what Operation Luscombe is and what it can offer. A review is underway to increase the frequency of the Wellbeing Van from biweekly to weekly.

In response to a question, the City of London Police have no intention to criminalise individuals, however, there must be way to make reprimands effective. Unless the action is processed the criminal system, it will not be reviewed.

RESOLVED, that the update be noted.

Joint report of the Executive Director, Commuunity and Children’s Services and Director of Public Health, City & Hackney Public Health.

The Sub Committee received a joint report of the Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services and the Director of Public Health, City & Hackney on the Combating Drugs Partnership and substance use support update.

A query was raised regarding the outreach and support for the LBGTQ+ community. Members were informed that the department is working with two organisations, Antidote and The Love Tank, to review the use of sex amongst the LBGTQ+ community, as well as hormonal drug use amongst the trans community.

In response to a question, the Sub Committee were informed that a review is underway to explore what approaches are working, the uptake on various services, and what services and approaches are missing. Members were informed that over two-thirds of those sleeping rough have a drug and alcohol need.

RESOLVED – That the Sub Committee note the update.

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

The Sub Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services on the Strategy Delivery Update. Members were presented with the new dashboard and visualizations of data. 

It was requested that further information and case studies are included to support the data in future to create a narrative. 

RESOLVED – That the Sub Committee note the update.

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

The Sub Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services. The Chair thanked the officers for their work.

RESOLVED – That the Sub Committee note the update.

Joint report of the Commercial Director and the Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services.

The Sub Committee received a joint report of the Commercial Director and Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services for the procurement of a software system.

Members were informed that this was approved by the Projects and Procurement Sub Committee. Concerns were raised that the Sub Committee, the focus of the software, was not aware of nor given opportunity to raise concern on this decision. Member were informed that a Governance Review will be held over the summer to review procedural requirements.  

Members raised questions on how the metrics would be measured and the level of demand reviewed.  

RESOLVED – That the Sub Committee note the update.

There were no questions.

External Members Recruitment

The Sub Committee were informed that the recruitment process for External Members to the Sub Committee was underway. The Chair asked Members to help advertise the vacancies to encourage applicants. In response to a question, Members were informed that the City Churches post was a separate vacancy, not included in the external membership.

Snowhill Centre Visits

The Chair invited Members to attend a tour of the recently opened Snowhill Assessment Centre.

The Monument Area

The Chair informed the Sub Committee that a spike in crime in The Monument Area that occurred in April was reviewed by the City of London Police and continues to be monitored.  

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.

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To agree the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2024.

That the non-public minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2024 be agreed as a correct record.

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

The Sub Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services on the Post Rough Sleeping Initiative Planning Proposal.

Members heard how the current RSI interventions had been reviewed internally by officers. Members noted that some interventions performed less well than others and asked that any, in any new programme, interventions were evaluated to establish their performance and value for money. The Subcommittee were informed that any new interventions would be designed based on an assessment of need.

Members thanked the officers for their data and has requested an analysis of the data and to better understand how and how the statistics vary.

The Chair of the Grand Committee requested a detailed case for which could be used to fight for the budget at the Resource Allocation Sub Committee.

RESOLVED – That the Sub Committee recommend the proposal to the Grand Committee.

There were no non-public questions.

There was no other business.