Agenda item

For the Board to receive an update on the implementation of the Homeless Strategy Group's Winter Plan which was approved on 4 October 2018.

The Board considered a report (Agenda Item 11) which provided an update on the implementation of the Homelessness Strategy Group’s (HSG) Winter Action Plan.

Councillor Rick Jones thanked Sam Headland for her time chairing the group and wished her well with her new job. The HSG would appoint a new chair at their next meeting.

Matt Pearce noted that the Winter Action Plan was agreed by the Board in October 2018 and some funding had been received from the government through the Rough Sleepers Initiative grant.

Sally Kelsall advised that the Council had commissioned winter provision from Two Saints to ensure that any individual with a local connection to West Berkshire at risk of rough sleeping between 1^st November 2018 and 31^st March 2019 could have access to shelter and daytime activities. The plan also included promotion of Streetlink, health and dental drop-in services and a dual-diagnosis worker. A ‘make it happen’ and a ‘move on’ fund had been established to enable people to move through Two Saints to independent accommodation and employment. The Homelessness Strategy Group meeting the following week would consider the Rough Sleeper Strategy.

Councillor Doherty stated that it was good to see the amount of work ongoing and asked for clarity regarding the official number of rough sleepers. Sally Kelsall advised that in November 2018 the official count was undertaken according to the government’s prescribed methodology. In 2017 there were 20 rough sleepers, prior to the official count the number of known rough sleepers was 29 and in November 2018 the figure was 19. As of January 2019, there were 15 rough sleepers. The Housing Service had worked hard to enable people to move through supported accommodation and the Homelessness Reduction Act had extended the Council’s powers to offer discretionary accommodation. West Berkshire Homeless had also accommodated people in halfway houses. Rough sleeper numbers fluctuated daily.

Tandra Forster enquired whether rough sleepers who were offered accommodation would be able to sustain their tenancies. Sally Kelsall advised that it would depend on the individual’s support needs. The Housing First project sought to offer accommodation first and then put support in place to enable people with complex needs to sustain their tenancies. The project was funded for 18 months so the Housing Service was looking at the longer term sustainability of the project.

Andrew Sharp stated that he disagreed with the November 2018 official number of rough sleepers and expressed the view that the methodology was deeply flawed. Sally Kelsall advised that the Council also hosted the Rough Sleepers Task and Targeting Group which monitored individuals known to be, or have a history of, rough sleeping. Tessa Lindfield noted that the official government figure was to enable comparison between local authorities.

Councillor Quentin Webb asked whether data regarding the length of time an individual slept rough was analysed. Sally Kelsall confirmed that this information was tracked.

Andrew Sharp commented that considerable progress had been made in comparison to the situation the previous year. He noted that the temperature was -4C the previous night and local knowledge suggested 13 people slept outside. He expressed disappointment that joint working was good until disagreements over alternative accommodation arose. Sally Kelsall responded that in accordance with the Winter Plan, the Council had commissioned 25 additional places over winter, plus bed and breakfast accommodation so there was capacity to accommodate anyone still sleeping rough.

Andrew Sharp advised that a draft version of the plan had made reference to an overspill facility and as it had not been realised it was removed before the plan was presented to the Board in October 2018. In November 2018, an overspill facility was identified. The Homelessness Strategy Group had always known that there would be a small number of people who would never accept accommodation at Two Saints. Andrew Sharp also requested a breakdown of the Rough Sleepers Initiative spending and challenged that none had gone towards voluntary groups who supported rough sleepers. He stated that the number of rough sleepers should be agreed with local charities. Andrew Sharp suggested that the Health and Wellbeing Board should consider what lessons it could learn from how statutory partners worked with the voluntary and community sector. Councillor Rick Jones advised that Andrew Sharp was correct to raise his concerns but would like the Homelessness Strategy Group to discuss these at their next meeting before Board members got involved.

Councillor Graham Jones noted that rough sleepers were a hard to reach group and while there was capacity to accommodate them, people were entitled to make their own choices. He asked how this situation could be resolved. Sally Kelsall advised that the Rough Sleeping Strategy would outline a person centred approach and acknowledge that solutions could not take a one size fits all approach. It was likely that there would be small number of people who would choose not to engage with any offers of support and accommodation.

Tessa Lindfield praised the impressive reduction in the number of rough sleepers that had been achieved and asked how evidence of best practice was being used to inform decision making. Sally Kelsall advised that 33 Councils had benefitted from the Rough Sleepers Initiative funding and regular meetings were held with the other local authorities. The Housing Minister also made recommendations and the South East Public Health England team had supported the development of a longer term homelessness strategy.

Andrew Sharp noted that in the longer term, there was an opportunity to establish a health and wellbeing hub. The Homelessness Strategy Group should also look into hospital discharge arrangements for homeless people. Cathy Winfield advised that practice at the Royal Berkshire Hospital was good but other hospitals used by West Berkshire patients could be an area for improvement.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.