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Decision details
Next Steps Accommodation Programme
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: For Determination
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
To update Cabinet on the outcome of the council's bid to the Next Steps Accommodation Programme
Decisions:
The Assistant Director, Housing and Built Environment, presented a report to approve the mobilisation of the Next Steps Accommodation Programme and enhanced support services for rough sleepers.
Following the “Everyone In” instruction issued at the start of lockdown, the Council made additional discretionary temporary accommodation placements for former rough sleepers. There are currently 62 former rough sleepers living in emergency accommodation in Hastings.
Outreach services continued throughout lockdown and the number of verified rough sleepers remained low. Since lockdown measures have begun to be eased, there has been an increase in the number of people found rough sleeping.
There is currently a projected budget shortfall of £643,00 at year-end to continue temporary accommodation placements for former rough sleepers.
The government announced additional capital and revenue funding to continue work with rough sleepers in the Next Steps Accommodation Programme and Hastings Council led a consortium bid working with other East Sussex local authorities.
In Hastings, the total capital investment would be £1,855,000. This is made up of £1,113,000 worth of grant funding and £742,000 match funding from the council. The cost of borrowing this amount based on the current interest rate from the Public Works Loans Board (PWLB) would be £31,208.
Councillor Batsford proposed approval of the recommendations seconded by Councillor O’Callaghan.
RESOLVED (unanimously) that:
1. Cabinet approves the activation of Hastings Borough Council’s Registered Provider and Homes England Investment Partner status
2. Cabinet grant an exemption to the council’s financial operating rules under paragraph 21c of the Financial Operating Procedures, to vary our existing contract for the Rapid Rehousing Pathway service to provide additional staffing cover and landlord incentives
3. Cabinet grant an exemption to the council’s financial operating rules under paragraph 21c of the Financial Operating Procedures, to vary our existing contract for the Rough Sleeping Initiative Assessment Unit to provide additional staffing cover
4. Cabinet grant an exemption to the council’s financial operating rules under paragraph 21c of the Financial Operating Procedures to vary our existing grant funding agreements with Change, Grow Live (CGL) and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) to provide enhanced substance dependency and mental health support for former rough sleepers
5. Cabinet grant an exemption to the council’s financial operating rules under paragraph 21c of the Financial Operating Procedures, to commission additional day centre provision for rough sleepers, as part of the Clinical Commissioning Group’s health inequalities programme
6. Cabinet recommend to Full Council that the capital programme is amended to provide match funding of £742,000 for new Housing First units, including £442,000 reassigned from the second phase of investment in emergency accommodation
Reasons:
The council has submitted a bid to the MHCLG’s Next Steps Accommodation Programme on behalf of East Sussex Partners to help enhance services locally for rough sleepers.
Report author: Michael Courts
Publication date: 06/10/2020
Date of decision: 05/10/2020
Decided at meeting: 05/10/2020 - Cabinet
Accompanying Documents:
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