Agenda item

To consider the following motion, submitted by Mr Jones, notice of which was given on 21 September 2018.

‘This Council is extremely concerned that 2018 has seen the number of people sleeping rough in West Sussex reach its highest level since modern records began.  It supports the aims of the Government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy to tackle rough sleeping and pledges to do it all it can to ensure the aims to eradicate rough sleeping become a reality in West Sussex, including targeted prevention activity.  Furthermore, this Council values the work of voluntary sector organisations around the county who support some of the most vulnerable residents who are at risk of homelessness or who need support to prevent them from being homeless.  The Council is concerned to note that:

(1)     The current proposals being considered by the Cabinet Member which might cut the entire funding for housing support will bring significant impacts in the medium to longer term by adding to the demand for acute higher cost specialist services and that implementation of these proposals would not only put this Council at odds with national government policy but crucially will deny local councils the opportunity to secure government funding in tackling this major social problem.  In addition, the ‘floating support’ services at threat are a key tool for promoting social inclusion and stable communities through tenancy sustainment, community engagement and a reduction in anti-social behaviour, all key planks in meeting strategic objectives within the Council’s own West Sussex Plan 2017-22;

(2)     Without this support this Council expects to see a rise in homelessness across all client groups, including families with associated social and health costs.  These include direct costly impacts on social care services through family breakdown with increased child protection issues, foster and other care placements and temporary accommodation placements for intentionally homeless families.  Poor educational attainment and increased truancy rates for children in unsettled and temporary accommodation will inevitably be added consequences;

(3)     The termination of housing support for young people over 18, through such initiatives as the foyers across the county, puts vulnerable young people who have either suffered a troubled family life, or are care leavers, in a position where they will be moved from a relatively stable and secure environment which can be used as a stepping stone into living independently, and either be immediately forced into shared temporary accommodation or sharing in the private rented sector, with people who will not be vetted or motivated to act in that young person’s best interest.  While this would be undesirable for all young people placed in that situation, it will be particularly inconsistent with the Council’s duty as a corporate parent to care leavers, who form a significant proportion of the current service users; and

(4)     If funding is removed and refuge accommodation for women and their children subjected to domestic abuse is no longer available, this will put women’s lives and children’s lives directly at risk, as well as taking away support for women with their recovery and helping to rebuild their confidence and self-esteem, and losing specialist support workers for the children who accompany them.

This Council believes that the proposals clearly and directly fly in the face of three of the key areas of focus agreed by the Council – best start in life for children and young people, a strong, safe and sustainable place for communities and a council that works for communities.  This Council further believes that a fourth key area of focus, independence in later life, is also significantly impacted by these proposals because the current preventative service model extra care housing schemes give vulnerable older people whose disabilities, frailty or mental health make ordinary housing unsuitable the opportunity to live independent for longer. 

Therefore this Council requests that the Cabinet Member for Adults and Health ensures that the existing funding through 18 contracts with housing related support services is maintained in full for 2019/20 and rejects the current proposals being considered to terminate them.’

75.1   The following motion was moved by Mr Jones and seconded by Mr Oxlade.

‘This Council is extremely concerned that 2018 has seen the number of people sleeping rough in West Sussex reach its highest level since modern records began.  It supports the aims of the Government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy to tackle rough sleeping and pledges to do it all it can to ensure the aims to eradicate rough sleeping become a reality in West Sussex, including targeted prevention activity.  Furthermore, this Council values the work of voluntary sector organisations around the county who support some of the most vulnerable residents who are at risk of homelessness or who need support to prevent them from being homeless.  The Council is concerned to note that:

(1)     The current proposals being considered by the Cabinet Member which might cut the entire funding for housing support will bring significant impacts in the medium to longer term by adding to the demand for acute higher cost specialist services and that implementation of these proposals would not only put this Council at odds with national government policy but crucially will deny local councils the opportunity to secure government funding in tackling this major social problem.  In addition, the ‘floating support’ services at threat are a key tool for promoting social inclusion and stable communities through tenancy sustainment, community engagement and a reduction in anti-social behaviour, all key planks in meeting strategic objectives within the Council’s own West Sussex Plan 2017-22;

(2)     Without this support this Council expects to see a rise in homelessness across all client groups, including families with associated social and health costs.  These include direct costly impacts on social care services through family breakdown with increased child protection issues, foster and other care placements and temporary accommodation placements for intentionally homeless families.  Poor educational attainment and increased truancy rates for children in unsettled and temporary accommodation will inevitably be added consequences;

(3)     The termination of housing support for young people over 18, through such initiatives as the foyers across the county, puts vulnerable young people who have either suffered a troubled family life, or are care leavers, in a position where they will be moved from a relatively stable and secure environment which can be used as a stepping stone into living independently, and either be immediately forced into shared temporary accommodation or sharing in the private rented sector, with people who will not be vetted or motivated to act in that young person’s best interest.  While this would be undesirable for all young people placed in that situation, it will be particularly inconsistent with the Council’s duty as a corporate parent to care leavers, who form a significant proportion of the current service users; and

(4)     If funding is removed and refuge accommodation for women and their children subjected to domestic abuse is no longer available, this will put women’s lives and children’s lives directly at risk, as well as taking away support for women with their recovery and helping to rebuild their confidence and self-esteem, and losing specialist support workers for the children who accompany them.

This Council believes that the proposals clearly and directly fly in the face of three of the key areas of focus agreed by the Council – best start in life for children and young people, a strong, safe and sustainable place for communities and a council that works for communities.  This Council further believes that a fourth key area of focus, independence in later life, is also significantly impacted by these proposals because the current preventative service model extra care housing schemes give vulnerable older people whose disabilities, frailty or mental health make ordinary housing unsuitable the opportunity to live independent for longer. 

          Therefore this Council requests that the Cabinet Member for Adults and Health ensures that the existing funding through 18 contracts with housing related support services is maintained in full for 2019/20 and rejects the current proposals being considered to terminate them.’

75.2   An amendment was moved by Mr Barling and seconded by Mr Boram.

‘This Council is extremely concerned that 2018 has seen the number of people sleeping rough in West Sussex reach its highest level since modern records began.  It supports the aims of the Government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy to tackle rough sleeping and pledges to do it all it can to ensure the aims to eradicate rough sleeping become a reality in West Sussex, including targeted prevention activity.  Furthermore, this Council values the work of voluntary sector organisations around the county who support some of the most vulnerable residents who are at risk of homelessness or who need support to prevent them from being homeless.  The Council is concerned to note that:

(1)     The current proposals being considered by the Cabinet Member which might cut the entire funding for housing support will bring significant impacts in the medium to longer term by adding to the demand for acute higher cost specialist services and that implementation of these proposals would not only put this Council at odds with national government policy but crucially will deny local councils the opportunity to secure government funding in tackling this major social problem.  In addition, the ‘floating support’ services at threat are a key tool for promoting social inclusion and stable communities through tenancy sustainment, community engagement and a reduction in anti-social behaviour, all key planks in meeting strategic objectives within the Council’s own West Sussex Plan 2017-22;

(2)     Without this support this Council expects to see a rise in homelessness across all client groups, including families with associated social and health costs.  These include direct costly impacts on social care services through family breakdown with increased child protection issues, foster and other care placements and temporary accommodation placements for intentionally homeless families.  Poor educational attainment and increased truancy rates for children in unsettled and temporary accommodation will inevitably be added consequences;

(3)     The termination of housing support for young people over 18, through such initiatives as the foyers across the county, puts vulnerable young people who have either suffered a troubled family life, or are care leavers, in a position where they will be moved from a relatively stable and secure environment which can be used as a stepping stone into living independently, and either be immediately forced into shared temporary accommodation or sharing in the private rented sector, with people who will not be vetted or motivated to act in that young person’s best interest.  While this would be undesirable for all young people placed in that situation, it will be particularly inconsistent with the Council’s duty as a corporate parent to care leavers, who form a significant proportion of the current service users; and

(4)     If funding is removed and refuge accommodation for women and their children subjected to domestic abuse is no longer available, this will put women’s lives and children’s lives directly at risk, as well as taking away support for women with their recovery and helping to rebuild their confidence and self-esteem, and losing specialist support workers for the children who accompany them.

This Council believes that the proposals clearly and directly fly in the face of three of the key areas of focus agreed by the Council – best start in life for children and young people, a strong, safe and sustainable place for communities and a council that works for communities.  This Council further believes that a fourth key area of focus, independence in later life, is also significantly impacted by these proposals because the current preventative service model extra care housing schemes give vulnerable older people whose disabilities, frailty or mental health make ordinary housing unsuitable the opportunity to live independent for longer. 

          Therefore this Council requests that the Cabinet Member for Adults and Health ensures that the existing funding through 18 contracts with housing related support services are is maintained in a sustainable way and to continue to promote the Government’s homelessness strategy (for rough sleepers) and continues constructive consultations with all district and borough councils and the service providers in full for 2019/20 and rejects the current proposals being considered to terminate them.’

75.3   The amendment was put to a recorded vote under Standing Order 35.3.

(a)     For the amendment – 48

Mr Acraman, Mrs Arculus, Lt Cdr Atkins, Mr Baldwin, Mr Barling, Mr Barrett-Miles, Mr Boram, Mr Bradbury, Mr Bradford, Mrs Bridges, Mr Catchpole, Mr Cloake, Mr Crow, Mrs Dennis, Mrs Duncton, Mr Edwards, Mr Elkins, Mr Fitzjohn, Ms Flynn, Ms Goldsmith, Mrs Hall, Mr High, Mr Hillier, Mr Hunt, Mrs Jupp, Mr Jupp, Ms Kennard, Mrs Kitchen, Mr Lanzer, Mr Lea, Mr Markwell, Mr Marshall, Mr McDonald, Mr Mitchell, Mr Montyn, Mr R J Oakley, Mr S J Oakley, Mr Parikh, Mrs Pendleton, Mr Petts, Mrs Purnell, Mrs Russell, Mr Simmons, Mrs Sparkes, Mr Turner, Mrs Urquhart, Mr Waight and Mr Wickremaratchi.

(b)     Against the amendment - 12

Mr Buckland, Dr Dennis, Mr Jones, Ms Lord, Mrs Millson, Dr O’Kelly, Mr Oppler, Mr Oxlade, Mr Purchese, Mr Quinn, Mr Smytherman and Dr Walsh.

(c)     Abstentions – 1

Mr Barnard

75.4   The amendment was carried.

75.5   The motion as amended and set out below was agreed.

‘This Council is extremely concerned that 2018 has seen the number of people sleeping rough in West Sussex reach its highest level since modern records began.  It supports the aims of the Government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy to tackle rough sleeping and pledges to do it all it can to ensure the aims to eradicate rough sleeping become a reality in West Sussex, including targeted prevention activity.  Furthermore, this Council values the work of voluntary sector organisations around the county who support some of the most vulnerable residents who are at risk of homelessness or who need support to prevent them from being homeless.  The Council is concerned to note that:

(1)     The current proposals being considered by the Cabinet Member which might cut the entire funding for housing support will bring significant impacts in the medium to longer term by adding to the demand for acute higher cost specialist services and that implementation of these proposals would not only put this Council at odds with national government policy but crucially will deny local councils the opportunity to secure government funding in tackling this major social problem.  In addition, the ‘floating support’ services at threat are a key tool for promoting social inclusion and stable communities through tenancy sustainment, community engagement and a reduction in anti-social behaviour, all key planks in meeting strategic objectives within the Council’s own West Sussex Plan 2017-22;

(2)     Without this support this Council expects to see a rise in homelessness across all client groups, including families with associated social and health costs.  These include direct costly impacts on social care services through family breakdown with increased child protection issues, foster and other care placements and temporary accommodation placements for intentionally homeless families.  Poor educational attainment and increased truancy rates for children in unsettled and temporary accommodation will inevitably be added consequences;

(3)     The termination of housing support for young people over 18, through such initiatives as the foyers across the county, puts vulnerable young people who have either suffered a troubled family life, or are care leavers, in a position where they will be moved from a relatively stable and secure environment which can be used as a stepping stone into living independently, and either be immediately forced into shared temporary accommodation or sharing in the private rented sector, with people who will not be vetted or motivated to act in that young person’s best interest.  While this would be undesirable for all young people placed in that situation, it will be particularly inconsistent with the Council’s duty as a corporate parent to care leavers, who form a significant proportion of the current service users; and

(4)     If funding is removed and refuge accommodation for women and their children subjected to domestic abuse is no longer available, this will put women’s lives and children’s lives directly at risk, as well as taking away support for women with their recovery and helping to rebuild their confidence and self-esteem, and losing specialist support workers for the children who accompany them.

This Council believes that the proposals clearly and directly fly in the face of three of the key areas of focus agreed by the Council – best start in life for children and young people, a strong, safe and sustainable place for communities and a council that works for communities.  This Council further believes that a fourth key area of focus, independence in later life, is also significantly impacted by these proposals because the current preventative service model extra care housing schemes give vulnerable older people whose disabilities, frailty or mental health make ordinary housing unsuitable the opportunity to live independent for longer. 

          Therefore this Council requests that the Cabinet Member for Adults and Health ensures that housing related support services are maintainedin a sustainable way and to continue to promote the Government’s homelessness strategy (for rough sleepers) and continues constructive consultations with all district and borough councils and the service providers.’