Agenda item

This report will follow in a Supplementary Papers pack once the report has been published for Cabinet’s consideration (due for publication on Tuesday 30^th December 2025).

The Strategic Housing Officer reported on the three-year Government grant for homelessness prevention, rough sleeper outreach and domestic abuse services. The funding was more generous than anticipated, allowing for stability and potential expansion of services.

A summary of proposals was highlighted as follows:

• Confirmation of three-year funding for existing providers.
• Removal of temporary accommodation funding from this grant (covered by separate revenue funding).
• Government targets were to reduce rough sleeping by fifty percent and reduce families in bed and breakfast accommodation.

Member comments and discussions were as follows:

• Whether amalgamated funding made services flexible?  In response Officers expressed the view that the amalgamated funding was less flexible for temporary accommodation, however, this had been offset by increased funding.
• Why there had been underspending on crucial services? It was explained that this was due to the unexpected uplift in funding from Government, therefore, reporting for existing services only form part of this report and that a further report in respect of the surplus funding for 27/28 would be brought to members in November 2026 and for 28/29 surplus would be brought to members in November 2027.
• Clarity for the process of monitoring and auditing grant funded services was sought by the Board.  The Strategic Housing Officer explained that quarterly performance monitoring reports were a requirement, with confirmation of expenditure signed off in line with internal audit requirements.
• Clarity on the role of the part time Empty Homes Officer was explained to the Board as an initiative to work with owners of properties which had been empty for over a year.  This was aimed to put properties back into use to assist with the lack of housing stock within the District and would be carried out by an existing part time officer increasing their hours
• Discussions were raised also regarding the increase in demand from out of area case and pressures on temporary accommodation.  Members were informed that there is an increase in  out of area cases. That the full rehousing duty only relates to those with a priority need which includes victims/ survivors of domestic abuse and those with mental health issues.  It was explained that demand for accommodation is a growing concern within the District but the Council and the supply of accommodation becoming available has decreased..
• Further clarity on the BDHT Sunrise Project intensive support was also discussed with Members as requested.  It was explained that this was a non tenure specific, integrated support service for vulnerable residents.

RECOMMENDED that

The Cabinet is asked to RESOLVE that:-

1)    The initiatives in 4.5 be approved to receive the Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Grant and Domestic Abuse Grant allocations of funding for 2027/28 and 2028/29, subject to satisfactory performance; with any uplift and additional initiatives being implemented prior to that period to be the subject of a further report to the Cabinet; and

2)    Delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director of

Community and Housing Services, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing, to use any

unallocated grant from this source of grant funding during the year or make further adjustments and uplifts as necessary to ensure full utilisation of the grants, including any mid year Homelessness Prevention Grant top up, for 2027/28 and 2028/29 in support of existing or new schemes.