Agenda item - Contract award for the provision of a “Safe Space to Stay” service funded from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government

Extract from the proceedings of the Housing & New Homes Committee meeting held on the 13^th March, 2019, together with a report of the Executive Director for Health & Adult Social Care (copies attached).

100.1   Councillor Mears stated that she had referred the report to the council as an example of a matter that had come to the Housing & New Homes Committee seeking approval to delegate authority to the Executive Director for Health & Adult Social Care.  She believed that it showed the need for an Adult Social Care Committee as in delegating authority to the Executive Director, the Housing & New Homes Committee had no control over the contracts or any feedback.  There was a clear need for Members to have oversight of such matters and therefore a need to review arrangements and have an Adult Social Care Committee.

100.2   Following requests for clarification, the Monitoring Officer confirmed that the Health & Wellbeing Board was a Joint Committee with decision-making powers for adult and social care functions and therefore effectively an Adult Social Care Committee.

100.3   Councillor Page stated that the Members of the Health & Wellbeing Board worked with their Health counterparts and he believed the Board had been effective.  The report referred for information was about housing support and it was appropriate for the Housing & New Homes Committee to consider it.  The report had been well debated and he believed current decision-making arrangements were appropriate.

100.4   Councillor Moonan noted that the matter had concerned the use of funding that had been provided by government funding for a scheme to prevent homelessness.  As such it was appropriate for the Housing & New Homes Committee to consider the report and be aware of the overall context for support to rough sleeping.

100.5   The Mayor stated that the report had been referred for information and move that it be noted.

100.6   RESOLVED: That the report be noted.