Agenda item

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 an narrative to the Rough Sleeping Bulletin Data.

During the discussion on this item, the following points were noted:

a)     Members asked if the data on each of the rough sleeping cohorts could be broken down into the type of accommodation that clients move on to.   

b)     The last report to the Committee analysed the sharp increase in Q3 of 2021.  At this time, the  CoL had a higher proportion of new rough sleepers than other London boroughs, resulting from a winding down of  the pandemic responses and the removal of some of the options open to rough sleepers.

c)     The City has a large number of main line stations and transport hubs and Carter Lane had also closed in March.  Some clients might be rough sleeping in other boroughs and come into the City to take advantage of the night-time economy.

d)     Residents and workers had been very complimentary of Operation Luscombe, which targets begging. There are anti-social behaviours connected with begging, which culminates  in the purchase of drugs and increased criminality in an area, and all agencies need to work in partnership.  The Police actively share intelligence and work with the British Transport Police. 

e)     Outreach workers often return to rough sleeping clients on many occasions; some are very entrenched in street activity and resist offers of assistance.  There is no charge made for overnight accommodation.

f)      It was suggested that the data might be better utilised in terms of perception by businesses.

RESOLVED, That – the report be noted.