Agenda item - Single Homeless and Rough Sleeper Accommodation & Support Services Remodelling & Tender

Extract from the proceedings of the Housing & New Homes Committee meeting held on the 21^st September and the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee meeting held on the 13^th October 2016, together with a report of the Acting Executive Director for Adult Care & Health (copies attached, with the extract from the Policy Resources & Growth Committee to follow).

38.1      Councillor Meadows introduced the report which had been referred for information and detailed the proposed remodelling and retendering of services to meet the changing needs of homeless people in the city.  She stated that a new more flexible referral service to support rough sleepers would be introduced with the aim to remove all rough sleeping by 2020.

38.2      Councillor Mears welcomed the report and stated that it was an excellent policy document.  She stated that the target of 2020 was a high one and queried whether there would be enough bed space to meet the demand.  She had asked on a number of occasions for a report on adult care, including St Mungo’s to come to the Housing & New Homes Committee, as a number of questions remained unanswered.

38.3      Councillor Moonan stated that the report had been fully discussed at committee and the team involved had worked extremely hard to bring this forward.  It would provide best practice and value for the homeless in the city with services tailored to needs and assessments made quickly and easily.  She agreed that it was disappointing to have fewer beds available but by meeting the needs of those coming into need, people would be able to move forward.

38.4      Councillor Gibson stated that he had referred the report to the council to highlight the positive aspects of the report and noted the benefits of expanding Housing First.  He believed that the joined up approach would result in a better delivery of services and achieve savings.

38.5      Councillor Druitt stated that he supported the ambition of 2020, but felt that the situation was getting worse and was not convinced that reducing funding would help.  He hoped that the development of Housing First would be supported by the council and questioned what would be done for those without beds.

38.6      Councillor Barford noted that the report had been to the Housing & New Homes Committee and stated that she was happy to meet with Councillor Mears to discuss the provision for adult care.  The tendering process was designed to encourage providers to say how they would meet the needs in the future and to modernise the accommodation service, as the provision of a roof was not the only solution required.  She believed the city was fortunate to have specialist providers already and hoped that they would be able to meet the needs.

38.7      Councillor Meadows noted the comments and stated that she had asked for a report to a future meeting of the Housing & New Homes Committee in relation to Housing First and where savings could be made.

38.8      The Mayor stated that the report had been referred for information and moved that it be noted, which was agreed.

38.9      RESOLVED: That the report be noted.