Terms of Reference
Timescale and delivery expectations
The expectation is that the group will
meet (initially) monthly until the Homelessness and Rough Sleeper
Strategy has been agreed and the Local Plan Review is finalised.
The Group will examine proposals that seek to respond to
homelessness and rough sleeping locally and give feedback/ make
recommendations to the Environment & Community Panel. There
will be a particular focus on the Council’s role in
supporting the delivery of affordable housing and other housing
supply matters. It is expected
that this work will feed into the Local Panel Review, and therefore
this matter should be considered before the end of the
year.
The group will also monitor the
council’s performance in relation to homelessness and the
action plan of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy on an
ongoing basis.
Task Group Status
It was proposed by the Environment and
Community Panel that the group would be established on a formal
basis. In this regard the group members will undertake (with the
support of officers including Democratic services) to:
·
Appoint a chair person
·
Participate in
meetings
·
Prepare / agree
meeting agenda items
·
Agree and publish
agenda
·
Meet in public –
with the exception press and public for reasons including
commercial sensitivity or details appertaining to another
organization
·
Complete and publish
minutes of meetings held
Membership
The
task group will be made up of 5 members, which is representative/
proportional to the Councils political composition. Group Leaders
will nominate members to the group.
Purpose /
role of the group
The
purpose of the group is to examine and determine appropriate policy
and practice proposals to the Council’s Environment &
Community Panel.
The
task group will look at the following key areas:-
·
The requirements of the National Rough Sleeper
Strategy August 2018
And the
suitability of Councils emerging Homelessness & Rough Sleeper
Strategy.
·
The effectiveness of the Councils newly commissioned
services in relation to preventing homelessness-
o
The Rough Sleeper Outreach & Inreach
Service
o
The Benjamin Foundation Young Persons Tenancy
Support Service
o
Housing First Service
o
·
The Councils policy on the use of Discretionary
Housing approach in relation to homelessness prevention (in
conjunction with relevant Portfolio and Directorate) and make
recommendations for new approaches taking into
account Government Guidance and recent advice from Ministry
of Housing Communities and Local Government specialist.
·
Consider and review the impacts of Universal credit
on the Councils existing housing and benefit policies and make
recommendations for new approaches where necessary.
·
Scrutinise and review the Councils existing
approaches to the delivery of affordable housing and wider housing
delivery. Make recommendations for new approaches to address
identified housing delivery issues.
·
Meeting
arrangements
Initial scoping meeting - with the purpose of agreeing a work
plan. Further meetings will be arranged to discuss options, and
review progress of work plan.
It
is envisaged that the first meeting will be held before the
end of September 2018.
Working
methods
·
Involvement / contributions from other officers and
specialists who might be invited to present material at a meeting.
Important source of pre-meeting material is to be found
at:
·
Rough Sleeper Strategy August
2018
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/733421/Rough-Sleeping-Strategy_WEB.pdf
·
National Planning Policy Framework
Julyhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework—2
·
Discretionary Housing Payments guidance
manual March 2018https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/discretionary-housing-payments-guidance-manual
·
The homelessness monitor: England
2018(Crisis)
https://www.crisis.org.uk/media/238700/homelessness_monitor_england_2018.pdf