Agenda item

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 the potential use of church spaces for winter accommodation. Officers noted the logistical challenges in securing suitable venues but confirmed ongoing engagement with faith partners.
• On the topic of soup kitchens, officers explained that while welfare services are valuable, the City prefers to signpost individuals to structured support services to avoid inadvertently sustaining rough sleeping.

The Committee noted the report and thanked officers for their work. Members were invited to submit further questions to officers by email.

RESOLVED – That, the report be noted.