Agenda and minutes

Councillor Albiston declared a Personal Interest in Minute No. 125 as she carried out support work with Rotherham Rise.

A number of Members objected strongly that the meeting was not being held in the Council Chamber and therefore not being webcast.  The meeting room was not suitable for those with hearing impairment and there was no microphone.

 

The Chair explained that the decision had been made in anticipation that several homeless people would be in attendance; not having the meeting webcast would give the opportunity for a full discussion to take place.

There were no members of the public or press present at the meeting.

There were no communications to report.

Arising from Minute No. 115 (Governance and Performance – Repairs and Investment Contract), it was noted that this had not been followed up.

 

Arising from Minute No. 116 (Revised Rotherham MBC Code of Practice for Highway Inspection and Assessment), clarification was sought if there was a reporting mechanism in place for when an inspector recommended a dropped kerb but it was not implemented.

 

The Scrutiny Officer undertook to get an answer to this issue from Colin Knight, Network Manager.

 

Arising from Minute No. 117 (Strategic Asset Management Plan and Property Reviews), Councillor Jones cited an example where he had been told that a building in his area was proposed for demolition which was the first consultation he had had.

 

Arising from Minute No. 118 (Rotherham Town Centre Masterplan), Councillor B. Cutts requested further information regarding the temporary bus interchange and how the location had been agreed.

 

It was also noted that Rotherham was a child centred borough and not as stated in the Minute.

 

Councillor McNeely, as a Ward Member, expressed her desire to be part of the Town Centre Marketing Sub-Group.  She also felt that it should be “Town Centres” as there was more than one Town Centre in the Borough.

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Improving Places Select Commission held on 14^th March, 2018, be approved as a correct record subject to the clerical correction highlighted above.

 

(2)  That the issue regarding the non-implementation of a Highway Inspector’s recommendations be forwarded to the Network Manager for clarification.

 

(3)  That it be ascertained if any further consideration had been given to a member of the Select Commission being involved in the retendering/commissioning process of contracts.

 

(4)  That the issue of consulting Ward Members in relation to proposals for community buildings be referred to the Head of Asset Management for a response.

 

(5)  That the Scrutiny Officer refer Councillor B. Cutts’ query regarding the temporary bus interchange to the Director for Planning, Regeneration and Transport.

 

(6)  That the request by Councillor McNeely to be part of the Town Centre Marketing Sub-Group be forwarded to the relevant Director.

The Chair introduced the presenters who were in attendance to raise awareness of homelessness in Rotherham and the issues that those people in housing need faced.  It would also detail what actions were being taken to prevent homelessness in the Borough.

 

The presenters were:-

 

Sandra Tolley, Head of Service, Housing Options

Sam Barstow, Head of Community Safety, Resilience and Emergency Planning

Helen Caulfield-Browne, Strategic Commissioner

Jill Jones, Homelessness Manager

Shaun Needham, CEO Target

Gareth Parkin, SYHA

John McDonnell, Chairman, Shiloh Rotherham

 

The presentation was as follows:-

 

Homelessness Prevention Activity in Rotherham

 

Key Statistics:-

-          Universal Credit – no hard and fast predictions

-          Main reasons for homelessness

-          Temporary accommodation

-          Between April 2017-2^nd February 2018

122 households who were accepted as statutory

714 households were prevented from becoming homeless

484 homeless households on the Housing Register

-          Rough sleepers – 2 counted

 

Homelessness Prevention Strategy 2011-2018

-          The themes of the Prevention Strategy

-          Loans, rent in advance

-          Negotiations with landlords

-          Tenancy support

-          Pre-tenancy interviews and workshops

-          Furnished Tenancies

-          Financial Inclusion Team

-          Outreach advice – hospital, prisons, Shiloh, rough sleepers

 

Begging

-          Offence under the Vagrancy Act 1824

-          Complaints mainly from businesses

-          Police operation in November/December 2017 to focus on begging

-          Multi-agency day of action 5^th December, 2017 (another due in January)

-          Staged approach

-          15 warnings, 4 cautions, one summons, 11 referrals made

 

Anti-Social Behaviour Tools and Powers

-          Public Space Protection Orders – proportionate, reasonable appropriate

-          Community Protection Notices

-          Civil Injunctions

-          Section 222 Local Government Injunctions

 

Rough Sleeping

-          Official numbers are low

-          The act of sleeping rough in itself was not anti-social

-          Enforcement is not always the right way

-          The behaviours that can sometimes be associated are anti-social and can be dealt with

-          The official Rough Sleeper Count – reporting and help available

 

Changes to Homelessness Legislation

-          The Homelessness Reduction Act – the changes

-          Actions take in preparation for new Legislation

-          Access all eligible applicants through an advisory service and agree a personalised plan

-          Tailored the service to meet the needs of vulnerable people where their problems are “more than just the need for a roof”

-          Advice on preventing and relieving homelessness

-          October 2018 – new duty on public bodies to notify the local authority if they are aware of someone who is faced with or is homeless

 

Homelessness Funding

-          Annual cost to run the Homelessness Service = £612,461

       Flexible Homelessness Support Grant

       Burdens Funding

       The Rough Sleepers

       Domestic Abuse

       2017/18 = £333,636

       2018/19 = £314,710

       2019/20 = £339,455

 

Housing Related Support

-          HRS is a preventative programme providing ‘downstream’ cost-effective services and social care

 

Housing Related Support Pathways

-               Complex Need

Housing First

-               Vulnerable Adults

Emergency statutory accommodation and support

Short term supported housing

Floating support

Dispersed short term tenancies

-               Domestic Abuse

Refuge

Floating support

-               Young People & Parents

Emergency statutory accommodation and support

Short term supported  ...  view the full minutes text for item 125.

Resolved:-  That a further meeting be held on Thursday, 7^th June, 2018, commencing at 1.30 p.m.