Agenda item - Public Involvement

To consider the following matters raised by members of the public:

(a)       Petitions: to receive any petitions presented to the full council or at the meeting itself;

(b)       Written Questions: to receive any questions submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 9 November 2016;

(c)   Deputations: to receive any deputations submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 9 November 2016.

Petitions

35.1     There were no petitions. 

Questions

35.2     Rachel from Love Activists presented the following question:

“Will the council explain why the Housing First project has not been included on the agenda for this month’s meeting, despite it having been voted on unanimously at the Housing & New Homes Committee on 21^st September, for a report to be heard at this month’s meeting?  The Housing First model has ended homelessness in other parts of the world.  With so many preventable deaths still happening on the streets of our city and around the country, homelessness and the application of this working model should be the upmost priority?” 

35.3     The Chair replied as follows: 

“Officers are continuing to work on developing a report to present to Committee assessing the options for Housing First going forward. Unfortunately it has not been possible to produce this report for the November Committee as further detailed financial modelling is required to assess both the costs and potential savings associated with this model.  The report is now scheduled to come to the Housing and New Homes Committee in January 17.”

35.4   Love Activists asked the following supplementary question:

“Why haven’t any of the previous and existing housing projects allocated any ‘truly affordable and accessible’ permanent homes to expand the Housing First project here in Brighton since the end of the pilot project of the Housing First project which ended February 2015? When and how will the council take meaningful action on the housing and homelessness crisis by doing so instead of prioritising more luxury flats that the people of Brighton don’t need or want?”

35.5   The Chair explained that the question was difficult to respond to as the council did not prioritise luxury homes that people do not want.  The Chair referred Rachel to the Rough Sleepers Strategy which was signed up to earlier this year where the council was prioritising homes and accommodation for those on the homelessness list. 

35.6    RESOLVED- That the Public question be noted.

            Deputations

35.7   There were no deputations.