Minutes:
The Board considered a report of
the Strategic Director, Communities which presented the Members with Scrutiny Review of Homelessness
Services 2011-2012.
The Board was advised that the scrutiny group
had specifically requested that the report be considered by the Executive
Board, without first having been reviewed by the Health PPB, in order to
accompany another related report outlining plans for the reconfiguration of
supported housing provision for the single homeless.
The Scrutiny Working Group had recommended the
following:-
·
Deliver
on the actions arising from the visits to temporary accommodation schemes;
·
Secure
efficiency savings through new contracts with Halton YMCA for the YMCA hostel
and Nightstop and de-commissioning of Y’s Up advice
and guidance;
·
Secure
efficiency savings through new contract with Plus Dane for floating support
services;
·
Achieve
efficiencies through the reconfiguration of remaining hostel provision for
single people in order to improve the distribution of services across the
Borough, prioritise access to services for individuals to whom the Council has
a statutory duty, increase focus on homelessness prevention to assist
individuals to resolve housing issues;
·
Consider
moving to a crisis intervention model for young homeless people in order to
maximise the potential for young people to return home to their family; and
·
Consider
benefits of alternative models of provision for those escaping domestic
violence.
The Chairman
reported that Members of the Board wished to re-visit the domestic violence
part of the review and it was agreed that this be deferred for further
consideration and consultation. It was
also agreed that, consideration would be given to the dispersal of the staff at
the refuge and when this part of the review had been completed, an action plan
would be formulated and be presented to a future meeting of the Board.
The following comments arose from the
discussion:-
· It was noted that
the physical attributes of the refuge building was in need of refurbishment;
· The Board noted
the excellent work that had been undertaken by Officers and Members of the
Working Group on the Homelessness Review;
· It was suggested
that the recommendations from the review could be more robust and an action
plan formulated that would also allow the Board to monitor the actions. In response, it was reported that part of the
recommendations required approval by the Executive Board in the first instance
so that the review could proceed. Other
recommendations in the review needed further consideration and options
established as it was unclear is some areas what could be taken forward;
· Clarity
was sought on when the criteria would be known for direct landlord
payments? In response, it was reported
that this information would be circulated to Members of the Board;
· It was noted that
disperse housing accommodation would not suit victims of violence and it was
requested that the working group report back to the Board before any decisions
were taken on this matter. In response,
it was reported that the Council were looking at piloting dispersed
accommodation, working with the current provider. It was also reported that before a pilot
could be established, consideration would have to be given to whether it was a
feasible option and this would result in Officers undertaking a significant
amount of preparation work over a period of time. It would also not be a short term pilot. In respect of the issues relating to the
physical aspects of the refuge, discussions were also taking place with the
current provider and work being undertaken to identify the options; and
· It was reported
that the majority of the time the Authority were able to meet the needs of most
people who suffered domestic violence.
However, there were gaps in the provision i.e. families with boys 14
years or over as the refuge would not be able to accommodate them.
RESOLVED: That
(1)
the contents of the report attached at Appendix 1
and comments raised be noted; and
(2) the domestic violence part of the review be deferred for further consideration.
Supporting documents: