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 providing a summary of activity undertaken by the City of London Statutory Homelessness Team between April 2018 and March 2022. The report offered a high-level demonstration of the impact of the Homelessness Reduction Act (2017), in particular the new duties to prevent and relieve homelessness, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Officers agreed to explore providing the data in a digitalised format.

The Chair stated that it would be useful to receive case studies alongside this report to demonstrate the referral pathways between the City Corporation and other local authorities and their respective ongoing responsibilities to users of the service. The Chair stated that case studies would also demonstrate how effectively users could navigate the system and provide the opportunity for user feedback. The Sub Committee was informed that housing applicants can feedback to the local authority they have approached.

In response to a question from a Member, the Sub Committee was informed that households with children approaching the service are automatically prioritised. If these households are moved into temporary accommodation, the service will offer housing which provides suitable access to education and/or employment.

In response to another question from a Member, the Sub Committee was informed that the City Corporation’s children’s services would lead on rehousing care-leavers.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.