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RESOLVED:
 
That Cabinet approves the new
Homelessness and Rough Sleeping 
Strategy 2023 - 25.
 
REASONS FOR DECISION
 
The Homeless Act 2002 places an overriding statutory duty
on all housing authorities to review homelessness trends in their
area on an at least 5 yearly basis, and produce an overriding
strategic homeless strategy which reflects the results of that
review.
 
Statutory guidance issued by the Department for Levelling
Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) requires Housing Authorities to
ensure that strategies are compliant with and take into account the
duties introduced by Homeless Reduction Act in 2018.
 
Additionally in 2018 Central Government published its Rough
Sleeping Strategy, which requires Councils to update their
Homelessness and Rough Sleeping strategies to include a focus on
Rough Sleeping.
 
The Council’s current homeless strategy is now out of
date.  Given significant and fast moving
changes in the local housing market and the introduction of new
legislation and duties under the Homeless Reduction Act, it is
necessary for the Council to produce a new Homelessness and Rough
Sleeping Strategy.
 
This strategy reflects the latest trends in homelessness,
follows best practice and is compliant with current
legislation.
The Strategy deliberately covers a shorter period than
before to reflect the fast paced changes we have recently seen in
housing and the wider economy, and the uncertainty of Government
policy beyond the general election due no later than January
2025.
 
DETAILS OF ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND
REJECTED
 
The publication of a homelessness strategy is a statutory
requirement as set out by the Homeless Act 2002 which has been
subsequently reinforced by Government guidance. All Housing
authorities are required under Section 1(4) of the Homeless Act to
publish a new homelessness strategy, based on the results of a
further homelessness review, within the period of 5 years beginning
with the day on which their last homelessness strategy was
published.
 
Not having an up to date strategy will make the Council
non-compliant with legislation and would place the authority at
risk of Government action, which would potentially have an adverse
impact on any future funding.
 
Given the current pressures placed on Council services as
a  consequence of the level of
homelessness in the borough, an up to date homelessness strategy
that includes a strategic framework that reflects the current
market conditions and operating climate is essential if the Council
is to respond effectively.
 
A
basic refresh of the existing strategy was considered, but given
the significant changes in the housing landscape and implications
of delivering the Homeless Reduction Act a new strategy was
considered to be more appropriate. It was also an opportunity to
combine the  Homelessness and Rough
Sleeping Strategies into a single coordinated document.
 
By not introducing a new Homeless Strategy the Council is
in danger of being less effective in both tackling the current
levels of homelessness and rough sleeping and in preventing
homelessness in the future.