Agenda item

N Brathwaite presented this report explaining the purpose was to provide the committee with an overview of the proposed Homelessness strategy 2016-2020. The report includes the approach taken to develop the strategy and an update on national and local trends, key changes in legislation and the council’s commitment to achieving a Gold Standard homelessness service.

N Brathwaite was happy to take questions

Cllr W Wyatt-Lowe said that this week was mental health week and that he had gone to a national session yesterday. He is trying to introduce mental health into policies and would love to see more on mental health in this strategy. Cllr Wyatt-Lowe will email N Brathwaite which will include approximately 7 places where he would like mental health and safeguarding mentioned.

N Brathwaite explained that it’s a little difficult to break it down exactly, although it doesn’t directly mention mental health it’s definately included in the strategy and it’s taken very seriously and they do aim to tackle it, additionally N Brathwaite confirmed that the strategy is underpinned by the service and team plan, which specifies specific tasks that are required of the service to achieve outcomes. She is happy to take comments on board.

 Cllr Mahmood asked if vulnerable people could be added to page 18, 4.4.

N Braithwaite explained that there is a vulnerable person’s strategy policy and that is to be reviewed shortly, there are a few policies/strategies that feed into this policy.

Cllr Imarni referred to page 9, 4.9 housing allowance, are there concerns about us competing. She also referred to 5.1 on page 10 welfare reforms, which part will affect us. On 5.5 with extending the period do we have the means to support this?

N Brathwaite said that the local housing allowance helps us around the support we give our tenants we have over 150 tenants in rented property, there are concerns around rising rent and we need to ensure tenants can afford the rent and yes we are competing with other local authorities as they offer better incentives for landlords, in particular London Boroughs. We are looking at better incentives and enhancing the scheme, placements in the area are becoming an issue which does cause an impact on the service and this will increase. There is a second sitting in Parliament this month regarding the homelessness reduction bill; if this is brought in it will cause an impact on the service in terms of capacity and management of temporary accommodation.

Cllr Imarni asked if she could have a list of associated partners.

Cllr Adeleke referred to page 10, 4.1-6, in 2014 you identified 7-30 people sleeping rough, what happened when you identified these people.  He also suggested as well as a Chair from the voluntarily sector to used 1-2 members to get them involved. N Brathwaite welcomed members involvement in the Homeless forum.

N Brathwaite said homelessness it’s a growing problem. People let us know and we send an outreach worker to them team to them. The number was high (2015) recently due to staff losing their accommodation at Champneys Health Spa.

Cllr Adeleke said that when he was Mayor he noticed a lot of office staff people had been sleeping in their cars, and asked if is this part of your catchment.

N Brathwaite confirmed it was part of their catchment, we would work with clients to consider options of more suitable accommodation.

Cllr Hearn congratulated N Brathwaite and her team on achieving bronze standard.

Cllr Mahmood referred to 2.5 do we use channel shift when children leave home.

N Brathwaite stated that they visited over 700 children last year, we fund an education service annually via Homeless Prevention Fund, which is delivered by Herts Young Homeless Group.  The purpose is to put children into respite if they are going through difficulties with families and then have mediation to resolve the family difficulty.

Cllr Mahmood expressed how good the report was but said it lacked plans.  N Brathwaite explained that the new format means that the strategy has no action plan, however is underpinned by Team Plan, can provide copy of this.

N Brathwaite said that she is happy to propose 6 months updates on the progress of the strategy. 

This was agreed by Members.

Cllr Mahmood said that the conclusion in the final paragraph ‘it’s not an option’ he thinks we need to re word this and put tackle.

N Brathwaite said that homelessness isn’t a choice for people our aim is to prevent homelessness from happening so we don’t want people to think that have an option of being homeless as this is not what we want.

Action: Cllr W Wyatt-Lowe to email minor amendments to N Brathwaite.

 N Brathwaite to email Cllr Imarni associated partners.

Outcome: The report was noted.