Agenda item

To consider a Housing First approach for Stevenage, outlining the Council’s initial proposals for the medium and long term response to engaging and housing the Council’s rough sleeper clients, together with identifying the additional resources required.

The Executive considered a report on a Housing First approach for Stevenage, outlining the Council’s initial proposals for the medium and long term response to engaging and housing the Borough’s rough sleeper clients, together with identifying the additional resources required.

In response to a series of Members’ questions, the Housing Operations Manager (Providing Homes) replied as follows:

·        Winter 2020/21 Cold Weather provision – due to the pandemic, the accommodation previously used by SBC for Night Shelter accommodation for rough sleepers when the temperature fell to 0 degrees centigrade or below was not compliant with the Government’s Covid-19 guidance.  The use of bed and breakfast accommodation would continue until arrangements could be put in place for the use of alternative, Covid-19 compliant, premises;

·        Rough Sleepers – SBC was obliged to endeavour to house rough sleepers when they presented themselves to the Council, regardless of local connection.  However, if a Stevenage local connection was not evident, but if a local connection was identified elsewhere, then it would be possible (following joint working with the local authority that covered that area) to arrange for individuals to be transferred back to that area to be accommodated;

·        Officers had investigated the use of a Housing First approach already adopted by other Hertfordshire councils, including Dacorum and St. Albans (who favoured a dispersed units approach) and Welwyn Hatfield (who used a Housing in Multiple Occupation style provision).  SBC would be considering a mixed dispersed units/HMO approach; and

·        Best practice – this had been gleaned wider afield from the Hertfordshire Tactical Co-ordinating Group, which itself fed into a regional forum covering areas including London, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

The Housing Operations Manager (Providing Homes) undertook to arrange for her slide presentation to be sent to all Members of the Council.

It was noted that none of the funding provided to Hertfordshire County Council to deal with rough sleeping had, as yet, been shared with Borough/District Councils, and that the Leader and Strategic Director (CF) were continuing to press for this to occur.

The Executive supported the Leader’s additional recommendation that, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health & Older People and Assistant Directors of Finance & Estates and Housing & Investment, a letter should be written to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government highlighting the significant funding gap of those local authorities operating a Housing Revenue Account (HRA), and the disparity between Government financial support provided to assist Councils’ General Fund budgets, and the absence of similar support funding for HRAs (including full recompense of expenditure already incurred on rough sleeper accommodation), with a request that such support funding be provided as soon as possible.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the support provided to homeless households during the Covid-19 restrictions, March – July 2020 and then November to December 2020 be noted.

2.          That the Council’s operational plan over the coming winter months, as detailed in the report, be approved, and that delegated authority is granted for the Strategic Director (RP), following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Older People, to agree any minor amendments, subject to financial control.

3.          That the current service pressures in Housing and Investment within the General Fund (GF) and Housing Revenue Accounts (HRA) be noted, which will be monitored by the Council’s Finance department in line with the HRA Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) planning which will be reported to Executive as and when required.

4.          That it be noted that funding has been obtained through Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MCHLG) for short term spends, and that the approach for use of these funds detailed at Paragraph 4.32 of the report be agreed.

5.          That the Leader, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health & Older People and Assistant Directors of Finance & Estates and Housing & Investment, write a letter to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government highlighting the significant funding gap of those local authorities operating a Housing Revenue Account (HRA), and the disparity between Government financial support provided to assist Councils’ General Fund budgets, and the absence of similar support funding for HRAs (including full recompense of expenditure already incurred on rough sleeper accommodation), with a request that such support funding be provided as soon as possible.

Reason for Decision: As contained in report; and 5. To highlight a disparity in Government support funding for authorities with Housing Revenue Accounts.

Other Options considered: As contained in report.