Purpose

To approve the new Homelessness & Rough Sleeper Strategy, the Homelessness Action Plan and the Long Term Rough Sleeping Partnership Plan

Decision

 Cabinet RESOLVED to:
1. Consider the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2027–2031 and associated Action Plan and endorse its onward submission to Full Council.
2. Recommend that Full Council approve the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2027–2031, recognising that approval of the strategy was reserved to Full Council.

Alternative options considered

Extending the current 2021-2026 Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy until 2028 (to coincide with LGR) was considered. However, due to significant changes in the structure of the Housing Needs service and wider partnership landscape, extending the current strategy would fail to adequately reflect the current landscape of services and the needs of service users.

Additionally, extending the current strategy to end at the formation of the New Unitary would risk leaving the New Unitary with no live Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, or add severe pressure to create one in a period of limited capacity, placing BAU at risk.

Doing nothing would result in the council failing to meet its statutory duties. The Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy is a requirement for Homelessness Rough Sleeping Domestic Abuse Grant (HRSDAG) funding. Non-completion of the Strategy would place this funding at risk and open the council to potential legal challenge.
 

Doing nothing also risks placing the council in breach of its statutory duty to produce a Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy every 5 years.