Agenda item

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The Senior Housing Manager presented the report and outlined the reason and need for procuring two services for a minimum of three-year period to help with the delivery of the council’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy: Ending Homelessness, Person by Person.

He explained to the panel the services were an Intensive Support Service and an Early Intervention Service. He brought to the attention of the Panel there were seven bids for the invitation to tender. He confirmed a contractor had been selected and the pre contract process had begun.

The Senior Housing Manager highlighted there were no direct financial implication for the Council as there were existing reserves from previous central government grants which were ringfenced by Central Government for the prevention and relief of homelessness.

The Chair thanked Officers for the report and invited questions and comments from the panel.

Councillor Heneghan asked if this service was cheaper to deliver in house.

The Senior Housing Manager commented he could not advise if the services were cheaper to deliver in house but believed the services would be more effective when delivered in partnership. He added the Council had strong partnerships with specialised services within West Norfolk. He added further if there was a cost saving with the services being inhouse this would be outweighed by the existing partnerships.

Councillor Heneghan sought clarification on funding and asked if we were waiting to find out about additional funding.

The Senior Housing Manager clarified; the funding available was from reserves which had previously been granted by Central Government which were ringfenced for the prevention and relief of homelessness. He added there was funding for 2025/26 through MHCLG’s rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant.

Councillor Heneghan sought clarification on the impact of devolution on the three-year contracts being proposed.

The Senior Housing Manager advised the Council would not be the first Local Authority to enter a contract such as this and go through devolution. He provided an example of Somerset Council went through this process.

The Housing Services Manager confirmed the included in the contract was standard clauses such as funding, changes in legislation and statutory requirements.  She added devolution would be covered in these clauses in the contract and for now the services needed to continue.

Councillor Rust, Portfolio Holder for People and Communities advised of the importance of these services and the families which are homeless needed to be supported. She added the external partnership are different to the relationships clients have with the Council and encouragement engagement with all parties. She added further with devolution, the services need to be delivered and the three-year contract provides reassurance to the external partnerships.

RESOLVED: The Environment and Community Panel supports the recommendations to Cabinet as set out below:

1.    to agree that £756,600 of funding, ringfenced for homelessness services, should be spent on the procurement of an Intensive Support Service and an Early Intervention Service.

2. to agree that the spending on this service should be derived from ringfenced government grants in the first instance and ringfenced reserves to make up any shortfall.