Agenda item

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

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services, concerning an update on the Commissioning and Procurement of services provided to the Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Service.

A Member asked about the potential to commission immigration advice services within existing budgets. The Officer had responded that they would look into the matter following the meeting, to understand what had changed and whether Tier 1 advice could be reinstated. They had also noted that funding from the current year’s rough sleeping prevention grant might be used to bolster the service, depending on contract flexibility. A redesign of the outreach service was underway, incorporating recommendations from the recent evaluation. Following a Member stating their preference was for immigration advice to be as conveniently located as possible, noting Toynbee Hall’s proximity to the City, it was added that resources had recently been placed at the Dellow Centre, reiterating that service planning remained subject to funding. The Chair requested that an update on the City Advice and Toynbee Hall arrangements be shared with Members outside of the meeting.

Following a query on the next funding announcement, the Sub-Committee heard that this was expected in the coming weeks. Regarding the hubs, there had been recent engagement with the GLA’s new rough sleeping lead and discussions were ongoing, including within the northeast London sub-region.

The Sub-Committee discussed Winter resources. Officers had confirmed that preparations were underway, including adjustments to the newly renewed navigators’ contract to add winter capacity. There were confirmed spaces in the existing pathway, a notional capacity of 17 in hotels and temporary accommodation, and the creation of a six-month winter coordinator post.

A Member had asked whether the target dates listed in the report referred to the actual contract expiry dates. It was clarified that most dates reflected when contracts needed to be in place, whilst one relating to the statutory out-of-hours homelessness response was a target date pending approval.

RESOLVED: - That the report be received, and its contents noted.