Agenda item

This report will follow in a supplementary papers pack after it has been published for the meeting of Executive Committee (due for publication on Monday 5 January).

The Strategic Housing Services Manager reported on the allocation of the 2026/27 Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Grant funding. The Grant to the Council for 2026/27 was expected to total £736,335 with £35,697 ring-fenced for domestic abuse grant element. It was noted that temporary accommodation costs could no longer be funded from this grant funding and would need to be met from the Council’s General Fund. It was also noted that grant funding was ring-fenced for specific prevention activities and the proposed allocations were outlined within the report.

Following the presentation of the report, Members commented and discussed the report as follows:

• Clarity on the support from St Pauls Housing Led/Housing First Support Service was requested. It was advised that this initiative for rough sleepers began during the covid pandemic. The service provided immediate refuge and additional support to assist with rough sleepers remaining off the streets.
• Following a question, Members were advised that the number of rough sleepers in the Borough was currently estimated at eight to ten. Following the response the Chair expressed the view that the grant funding which had been allocated for rough sleepers was substantial and requested clarity on the specific requirements. In response Officers explained that the rough sleeping allowance was only one element of the grant funding made available. Grant funding also included prevention initiatives and support programmes, which required regular monitoring. Other initiatives included support such as guide pathways, crash pads, severe weather support and housing of ex-offenders where necessary.
• The performance of the Council-funded organisation initiatives was discussed further. It was agreed by the Committee that an annual performance report should be recommended which would enable both scrutiny and the executive to review performance in this area. A current performance report for 2025/26 was also requested and agreed to be presented to the June meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
• Members also requested data on food bank usage to understand the local need.  Members were advised to note that some food bank organisations were independent and not Council run, however, Officers would gather the necessary data and share with Members of the Board.
• Clarification was requested to explain why the Homelessness Prevention Grant funding detailed within the report increased each year, compared to the Domestic Abuse Grant funding which remained static.  Officers advised that generally domestic abuse grant funding would be allocated through the new burdens process, however, the Homelessness Prevention Grant also covered elements of domestic abuse.
• Concerns were raised about the potential duplication of community grants and the need for visibility of all Council funding during grant panel meetings. In response Officers advised that the funding was managed for specific services and the applications submitted to receive Council’s grant funding required a detailed cost summary, which were assessed for any available funding. The Portfolio Holder addressed the Committee and explained the benefits of the some of the grant funded services for the Council, expressing the view that bed and breakfast funding requirements had substantially decreased due to the availability of the Homeless Prevention Grant funding.
• The Committee also discussed and requested further clarity on the underspending on grants, as identified in the report recommendation 3.  Officers explained that due to the late changes in the funding from Government, there had been some underspending.  However, this would be reviewed at the end of the financial year to identify requirements for priority service needs, particularly for the rough sleeper strategy. Additionally any extra resources would be reviewed in terms of utilisation within the year in support of existing or new schemes.
• Questions were raised about risks associated with funding changes for temporary accommodation and how these would be mitigated.  Members were advised that there were inherent risks associated with temporary accommodation, particularly with the extra costs for bed and breakfast requirements. However, the funding available to the Council for Housing would be utilised to manage the Council’s housing stock in order to reduce the reliance on temporary accommodation.

During consideration of this item, a recommendation was proposed by Councillor Warhurst. This recommendation was as follows:

“Officers provide an annual update in respect of the Homelessness Prevention Grant initiatives that receive Council funding”.

On being seconded and put to the vote, this recommendation was carried as an additional recommendation to the Executive. The other recommendations as printed in the report were endorsed by the Committee.

RECOMMENDED that

1)    Temporary Accommodation Services currently met by Homelessness Prevention Grant are now met from the Temporary Accommodation element of the Revenue Support Grant 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29.

2)    Subject to approval of recommendation 1 above by Council, the initiatives detailed at 4.4 (of the report) be approved to receive the Council’s Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Grant and Domestic Abuse Grant allocations of funding for 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29, subject to satisfactory performance; and should additional funding be announced at a later date by the Government for subsequent years then this would need to be the subject of a further report.

3)    Subject to the agreement of recommendations 1 and 2 above, delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director of Community and Housing Services, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, to use any unallocated Grants, or Homelessness Prevention Grant mid-year top up, during each year or make further adjustments and uplifts as necessary to ensure full utilisation of the Grants for 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 in support of existing or new schemes.

4)    Officers provide an annual update in respect of the Homelessness Prevention Grant initiatives that receive Council funding.