Issue - meetings

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Leytham)

Report of the Head of Health & Housing

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Leytham)

Cabinet received a report from the Head of Health & Housing which advised members of the grant funding secured under the Homelessness Change Programme to fund a new service for rough sleepers and single homeless households, progress made to date and the options for delivering the proposed service.  The report was exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 3, of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the exempt report:

Councillor Leytham proposed, seconded by Councillor Sands:-

“(1)      That the recommendations, as set out in the exempt report, be approved.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)                    That Cabinet approve the necessary savings to be made from Lancaster district’s existing and ongoing allocation of funding through Lancashire County Council’s Supporting People Programme in order to provide the revenue funding for the proposed service.

(2)                    That Cabinet delegates to the Head of Health and Housing the authority to select a suitable Registered Provider partner to build the project who would draw down the capital grant directly (without Lancaster City Council being the accountable body), undertake more detailed investigations to identify the most suitable and deliverable project of the two options identified and then bring a further report back to Cabinet. 

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Head of Health & Housing

Reasons for making the decision:

The proposed scheme will meet the needs of the intended client group that were identified and consulted upon by each district/locality within Lancashire which highlighted a need for supported accommodation for single homeless households over 25 and is consistent with the following:

·         Section 8 of the Council’s Corporate Plan 2012 - 2015 which seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of vulnerable people, reduce the number of homeless people in the district and reduce the number of people sleeping rough in the district.

·         Lancaster District Homelessness Strategy 2008 – 2013 which aims to reduce the number of vulnerable groups becoming homeless including young people, those affected by domestic violence and offenders/rough sleepers.

·         “No Second Night Out” – Government initiative to end rough sleeping nationally, leading to a Lancashire NSNO strategy and policy, and local policy and protocols.

·         Supporting People Commissioning Plans 2010/2011.