Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport.

This report provides a brief introduction to the government guidance in relation to homelessness and the background to how local partners have been addressing the issues over the past 5 years. A Homelessness Review was conducted in 2020 and the report of the findings is included as Appendix B.

The Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2021-2024 identifies the key remaining and emerging challenges and explains how the new strategy will address these by focussing the action plan around the following key themes:

1.         Access to Affordable Accommodation

2.         Prevention and Relief of Homelessness

3.         Improving the health of people who are homeless

4.         Meeting complex and multiple needs

5.         Tackling Rough Sleeping

The Cabinet is recommended to give approval to the Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2021-2024 as detailed in the report.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax on 0161 474 4319 or email:  andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Council’s requirement to formulate and publish a homelessness strategy based on the results of a review of homelessness in the district.  Stockport’s current Homelessness Prevention Strategy was published in 2016 and was due to come to an end in March 2021. The proposed new strategy presented as part of the report would replace the existing strategy and further outlined the measures the local authority and its partners would take until 2024.

RESOLVED - That approval be given to the adoption of the Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2021-2024 and associated action plan as detailed in the report.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Place) and Deputy Chief Executive.

The Homelessness Act 2002 (‘the 2002 Act’) places a requirement on local (housing) authorities in England to formulate and publish a homelessness strategy based on the results of a review of homelessness in their district. The development and production of this strategy follows the MHCLG code of guidance related to this duty

Stockport’s current Homelessness Prevention Strategy was published in 2016 and is due to come to an end in March 2021. This proposed new strategy would replace the existing strategy and outlines the measures the local authority and its partners would take until 2024.  

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Andy Kippax on Tel: 0161 474 4319 or email: andy.kippax@stockport.gov.uk.

The Corporate Director (Place) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the Council’s requirement to formulate and publish a homelessness strategy based on the results of a review of homelessness in the district.  Stockport’s current Homelessness Prevention Strategy was published in 2016 and was due to come to an end in March 2021. The proposed new strategy presented as part of the report would replace the existing strategy and further outlined the measures the local authority and its partners would take until 2024. 

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Stockport (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was queried why there was a disparity in the data between those who had presented as homeless and the figures detailing the numbers who were subsequently accepted as homeless.  It was clarified that people were encouraged to contact Stockport Homes as soon as practicable if they were at risk of being made homeless which allowed for appropriate advice and signposting to prevent them from ultimately being made homeless.

·         Rough sleepers and those being accommodated within hostels were being prioritised appropriately for Covid-19 vaccinations.

·         In response to query about levels of homelessness in the LGBT community and the training provided to staff to handle such cases appropriately, it was stated that Stockport Homes had an LGBT staff group, had provided awareness training to its staff around LGBT issues, and had supplied rainbow lanyards to its staff to make it clear that staff were approachable.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.