Agenda item
Cabinet Response to the Preventing Homelessness Task Group Report
Minutes:
Councillor C. Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Planning Services and Strategic Housing, presented the Cabinet’s response to the Preventing Homelessness Task Group. On behalf of the Cabinet he welcomed the group’s findings and thanked the Chairman of the review, Councillor C. Bloore, for his hard work.
Following consideration of the group’s report by Cabinet the Council had received notice about a significant reduction in funding for St Basils. This had occurred following a cut to the funding available from Worcestershire County Council (WCC) to St Basils, which would potentially have a negative impact its ability to continue to provide housing to young people who were homeless. Under these circumstances, whilst it was accepted that the proposed allocation of £15,000 to the Essential Living Fund (ELF), as detailed in the Task Group’s fourth recommendation, was well intentioned it was suggested that this funding might more appropriately be used to support an organisation with an immediate need for financial assistance.
The purpose of recommendation 4 was subsequently discussed in detail. Members noted that the original intention of this proposal had been to provide financial assistance through the ELF to struggling families and individuals who might otherwise be at risk of becoming homeless rather than to assist those who were already homeless. The group had anticipated that over the next couple of years more people would request support from the ELF once further changes to the Benefits system had been implemented. Members noted that both cases were worthy of support and would benefit vulnerable individuals. However, St Basils and the young people the organisation served were considered to be in more immediate need.
The Board discussed the extent to which the £15,000 would help St Basils address their financial difficulties and whether additional funding would be required to support similar organisations in future as a result of the County Council’s funding decisions. Relatively short notice had been provided to St Basils in this case, and it was possible that in future years the organisation would have more time to prepare to obtain funding from alternative sources. Members noted that the Council could also provide ongoing financial assistance to similar organisations if funding for groups that supported young people at risk of homelessness was recognised in the Council’s budget as an unavoidable pressure.
Members expressed concerns that funding decisions taken by WCC were resulting in financial implications for Bromsgrove District Council. Whilst the Council had a statutory duty in respect of homelessness WCC had statutory responsibilities in relation to looked after children and it was suggested that many such children might need to access support from organisations such as St Basils. Members therefore concurred that it would be useful for the Leader of the Council to write to WCC to raise their concerns about the financial implications of their funding choices for the Council.
At the end of these discussions the Board
RECOMMENDED that
(1) The £15,000 referred to in the Preventing Homelessness Task Group’s fourth recommendation be reallocated to St Basils to support their ability to continue to provide services in the district in 2017/18;
(2) Support for housing services for young people at risk of homelessness should be added as an unavoidable pressure for the Council; and
(3) The Leader of the Council should write to Worcestershire County Council to express concerns about the impact of the County Council’s funding decisions at a local level, including on Bromsgrove District Council.
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