Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest or other registerable interest they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

[Please see attached sheet for further guidance for Members]

Members were asked to declare at this point in the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interests or other registerable interests they might have in respect of the business on the agenda, if they had not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests.

Councillor Steels-Walshaw declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 3 Update Report on Homelessness / Resettlement Services 2023 including winter provision, commissioning issues and strategy update as she worked as the Service Manager for Changing Lives -York Drug and Alcohol Service as outlined in her register of interest and would therefore leave the meeting for the consideration of that item.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. Members of the public may speak on agenda items or on matters within the remit of the committee.

Please note that our registration deadlines are set as 2 working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at our meetings. The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5:00pm on Thursday 9 November 2023.

To register to speak please visit www.york.gov.uk/AttendCouncilMeetings to fill in an online registration form. If you have any questions about the registration form or the meeting, please contact Democratic Services. Contact details can be found at the foot of this agenda.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

During coronavirus, we made some changes to how we ran council meetings, including facilitating remote participation by public speakers. See our updates (www.york.gov.uk/COVIDDemocracy) for more information on meetings and decisions.

It was reported that there had been one registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

Councillor Rowley informed the Committee that he shared an office with the Salvation Army and that he could not support ending the contract work with the Salvation Army due to the expertise they bring and raised concerns of future funding should government funding come to an end.

This paper updates the Scrutiny Committee on the current services available for people threatened with or experiencing homelessness including the winter night provision for rough sleepers, and single homeless people in York. Performance information and legislative issues are included (Annex A).

It also advises on the current homelessness and rough sleeping strategy, the holistic approach being developed across directorates and relevant developments around commissioned contracts.

The Committee were joined by Tony Thornton and Charlie Malakey from the Salvation Army.

Cllr Steels-Walshaw left the meeting for this item due to her conflict of interest which she declared in minute 13.

Officers introduced the report providing an update on the Council’s homelessness and resettlement services. They noted that the high cost of housing in York was a significant factor in creating precarious housing situations, but that, the Council maintained an excellent service which was considered good practice. It was confirmed that the Council was seeking to move towards a housing first approach, as evidence showed that housing first was effective at reducing individuals need to return to homelessness services. Officers also noted that the Council continued to work with nationally recognised experts and organisations to support the Councils services and strategy.

The Committee raised concerns about the decision to allow the contract the Council had with the Salvation Army to lapse and enquired as to whether the Council’s procurement procedures had negatively affected the process. Concern was also raised, regarding the way in which the contract lapsing was communicated, as well as, the decision to bring services in house using new grant funding.

Officers confirmed that both the Council and the Salvation Army agreed that communication surrounding the contract expiry was regrettable and that the Council would continue to have a positive relationship with the Salvation Army and supported its charitable work in the city. In relation to the contracted provision the Council had determined that it would provide the service which had previously been contracted, through its Navigators team and that this would provide a more holistic service linking partners and other Council services more seamlessly. Officer made it clear the contract had come to had expired and both parties were fully aware of the termination date of the contract.

The Committee shared its concerns that the Council would lose the expertise that the Salvation Army had provided while contracted to perform street patrols. They also raised concerns that some homeless individuals will have built up a relationship with the Salvation Army and might not wish to communicate with Council officers. Officers confirmed that the Navigator team already worked with individuals who came to services from initial street patrols undertaken by the Salvation Army and also undertook street patrols. Members also raised concern about what support that would be provided for service users who were barred from entering Council support services. Officers confirmed that cases where a service user was unable to use Council services were rare and occurred were staff or other service users were at risk.

Mr Thornton and Mr Malakey were asked by Members what the Salvation Army’s charitable work within the city would now include to support the homeless, now that the contract they had from the Council had lapsed. They confirmed that they were looking into the viability of continuing their work including things such as drop in services. They confirmed that this work was under review.. They informed Members that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

This paper updates the Scrutiny Committee on the current Reablement services and the commissioning approach for contract renewal. 

The Committee considered the report which current

Reablement services and the commissioning approach for contract

renewal. Officers confirmed that the Council was exploring a four year contract when going out to procurement, they noted that a four year contract would be attractive to providers.

The Committee enquired as to whether the Council had considered bring the service in house and highlighted challenges relating to training and staff retention in the private sector. Officers confirmed that bring services in house were considered and an option would be considered two years into the contract. They also confirmed that training would be a condition in the contract and that staff retention should be better with the longer contract.

Resolved:

                      i.         Noted the report.

Reason:    To ensure the Committee is aware of the Council Re-Commissioning of the Reablement Service in York

Members are asked to consider the Committee’s work plan for the 2023/24 municipal year.

Members considered the Committee work plan. Members discussed the possibility of adding an item to the work plan to discuss technology in reablement and whether Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys (TEWV) CQC Inspection report would be available to consider at a upcoming meeting of the Committee. Members noted a desire for a report from TEWV to include KPI data on the diagnosis pathway for autism strategy and to include data on neurodivergence support.

Resolved:

                   i.        That an item be added to the work plan to consider technology options in reablement;

                  ii.        That the Committee request the Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys CQC Inspection report be brough to an upcoming meeting of the Committee and that it include information on TEWV provide regarding diagnosis pathway KPI for autism strategy and to include neurodivergence support.

Reason:    To ensure the Committee maintains a programme of work.