(Report of Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health)
The report outlined a proposal to develop a standalone Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, as required under the Homelessness Act 2021 and within the context of a UK wide housing crisis, setting out how the Council would continue to tackle this increase in demand, and to ensure homelessness was prevented at the earliest opportunity and a range of housing options were available for those who had lost their homes.
The proposed approach of undertaking a comprehensive evidence base review of the challenges faced at a national, regional and local levels by the district, involving key stakeholders including Members and key partners, which would then be used to inform the development of a draft strategy and an associated action plan, was supported by Members.
In addition, the proposed timetable leading to the adoption of the strategy by Cabinet on 3 March 2026, following consideration of a draft strategy by the Scrutiny Select Committee on 2 December 2025 before undertaking a public consultation in December 2025 / January 2026, was noted.
Finally, Members were pleased to note that a contract to deliver the Rough Sleeper Prevention and Recovery Services for the borough had been awarded to Porchlight until the end of the financial year pending further grant funding from the Government.
Following consideration by the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee, the Cabinet Member for Housing, Environment and Economy
RESOLVED: That
(1) the approach to the development of a draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy for consultation, be endorsed;
(2) the engagement of key stakeholders, including Members and key partners, to assist and inform the development of the draft strategy, be agreed; and
(3) the proposed timetable which aimed to present a draft strategy to Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee on 2 December 2025 with a final draft following consultation to be presented to Cabinet on 3 March 2026, be agreed.