Agenda item

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 they did not believe service users had been consulted on changes to the services they and the Council provided.

Members enquired as to the work the Salvation Army does as a charity, including work at the nappad, additional street patrols, and drop ins. Officers confirmed that this work was not what the Council had been contracting the Salvation Army to undertake and would continue to support the Salvation Army’s charitable work. Officers noted that the work the Salvation Army had been contracted to do was one small but important part of the Council’s homelessness services and that this work would be delivered as part of the Council’s services through the Navigators team. They confirmed that the Council provided a 24 hour comprehensive service.

The Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities confirmed that the previous administration had granted a temporary extension to the Salvation Army’s contract while the Council reviewed its strategies to support homeless individuals. He confirmed that as part of developing a rough sleepers strategy he was committed to working with partners to create a wraparound service that ends the need for rough sleeping. He noted that work would focus on preventing people becoming homeless and that as the housing first strategy developed there could be a role for a procured service.

Resolved:

                         i.         That the chair and vice chair write to the chair of Audit and Governance Committee to request that they consider additional to their committees work plan a review of how the Salvation Army contract elapsed;

                        ii.         That the Committee requested that the draft rough sleepers strategy be brought to the Committee for consideration prior to being finalised;

                      iii.         That the Committee requested that its Members be invited to attend the rough sleeping policy conference.

Reason:     To ensure that Council services continue to support homeless individuals.