Agenda item

1.      That the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant Spending Plan for the three?year period 2026/27 to 2028/29 be approved, as set out at paragraph 11.18 of report CAB3554(H).

2.      That all the fixed term staffing contracts be extended as set out in paragraph 4.4 of the report.

3.      That the allocation of £286,000 draw down from the Homelessness Grant reserve, to fund the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Spending Plan for 2026-27 be approved and the Homelessness Reserve Spending Plan set out at paragraph 11.24 of the report be approved.

4.      That the Homes for Ukraine spending plan and reserve plan be approved as set out at paragraphs 11.33 and 11.40 of the report.

5.      That the allocation of £47,856 for New Burden’s funding associated with the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight Act) 2023 be approved as set out in paragraph 11.44 of the report.

6.      That a capital budget to purchase up to 2 properties up to the value of £500,000 in total be approved, with 50% funded from the Ukrainian reserve (Homelessness) and 50% funded from the Homelessness reserve.

7.      That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director with housing responsibility, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities, to agree any minor amendments to spending plans for the homelessness, rough sleeping and domestic abuse grant, the homelessness reserve grant, Homes for Ukraine funding, Ukrainian reserve and New Burdens funding related to the Renter’s Rights Act and the Supported Housing Regulatory Oversight Act 2023 .

Councillor Reach (on behalf of Councillor Becker) together with the Service Lead – Strategic Housing introduced the report, highlighting that it was the first time a multi-year settlement had been provided by the government which would allow for more strategic, long term planning. 

The Service Lead and Strategic Director responded to questions and comments raised by councillors as summarised below: 

a)    The current assessment of homelessness and rough sleeping across the district and how often data was collected.

b)    Further clarification was sought on the relationship between the Renters’ Rights Act and the council’s statutory homelessness duties.

c)    Information was requested concerning the specific percentage of funding directed toward prevention activities versus crisis response in addition to a question regarding the measurable reductions in homelessness that were expected to result from the new funding approach.

d)    Whether neighbouring local authorities had received similar multi-year settlements and how this might impact the movement of homeless households between districts.

e)    Further information was requested on whether the grant funding could be geographically ring-fenced in light of upcoming Local Government Reorganisation.

f)      Further clarification was sought regarding which specific interventions were delivering the most successful outcomes and which were proving less effective.

g)    Information was requested concerning the level of coordination between the council and external partners, specifically the police, health services, and the voluntary sector.

h)    A question was asked regarding whether the proposed grant levels were sufficient for core partners, such as the Beacon and Trinity Winchester, to sustain their current service levels.

i)      Further details were sought on the progress and timeline for the purchase of two additional properties for use as temporary accommodation.

j)      Information was requested regarding the use of Memorandums of Understanding to protect partner funding during the proposed transition to a unitary authority under LGR.

The Cabinet Committee agreed the following for the reasons set out above and outlined in the report.  

RESOLVED: 

1.          That the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant Spending Plan for the three?year period 2026/27 to 2028/29 be approved, as set out at paragraph 11.18 of the report.

2.          That all the fixed term staffing contracts be extended as set out in paragraph 4.4 of the report.

3.          That the allocation of £286,000 draw down from the Homelessness Grant reserve, to fund the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Spending Plan for 2026-27 be approved and the Homelessness Reserve Spending Plan set out at paragraph 11.24 of the report be approved.

4.          That the Homes for Ukraine spending plan and reserve plan be approved as set out at paragraphs 11.33 and 11.40 of the report.

5.          That the allocation of £47,856 for New Burden’s funding associated with the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight Act) 2023 be approved as set out in paragraph 11.44 of the report.

6.          That a capital budget to purchase up to 2 properties up to the value of £500,000 in total be approved, with 50% funded from the Ukrainian reserve (Homelessness) and 50% funded from the Homelessness reserve.

7.          That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director with housing responsibility, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities, to agree any minor amendments to spending plans for the homelessness, rough sleeping and domestic abuse grant, the homelessness reserve grant, Homes for Ukraine funding, Ukrainian reserve and New Burdens funding related to the Renter’s Rights Act and the Supported Housing Regulatory Oversight Act 2023 .