Agenda item

The Committee is requested to consider the petition referral request which falls within the remit of this Committee.

Discussion:

Members considered a report regarding a petition referral request which fell

within the remit of the Committee.

A petition had been submitted calling on the Council to provide shelter and food for homeless people. Because the petitioner organiser was dissatisfied with the response received from the Director, she had asked the Committee to review the steps the Council had taken in response to the petition. The reasons why the lead petitioner considered the response to be inadequate were set out in paragraph 3.5 of the report and the Director’s response in paragraph 3.6.

Miss Surgeon, the Lead Petitioner, and Mr Surgeon were invited to address the meeting. They commented that homelessness impacted on society as a whole as well as the Council and other services. They considered that the cap on housing benefits would lead to more homelessness. They asked that the new Homelessness Strategy make provision for emergency shelters for homeless people to be available in all conditions and not just in cases of severe weather.

Some Members agreed with the premise of the petition that the Homelessness Strategy was inadequate, arguing it was focused on inputs and not the outcomes of avoiding rough sleeping and addressing the reasons for homelessness. Rough sleeping was visible to everyone, it was an issue the whole community cared about and it had a corrosive effect on society.  Whilst the Council’s limited resources were recognised it was argued the Council needed to do more. A number of homeless people had died recently in Medway and this was unacceptable. The fact that the Council met its statutory obligations was not enough. It was recognised that dealing with homelessness was not straightforward but it needed to be given a higher priority with best practice from other areas learned from. The severe weather protocol should be introduced earlier – although it was recognised that had happened on occasion. The possibility of a charter setting out the basic entitlements for people who were homeless was suggested. The lack of affordable housing was seen as a significant cause of homelessness.

One Member made the point that the Council was doing a lot more for homeless people than other areas of Kent. The response from the Director showed that the Council was doing a great deal and highlighted best practice.

The Head of Strategic Housing advised that a revised Homelessness Prevention Strategy was out for consultation and Members’ views would be welcomed. The draft Homelessness Strategy included a proposal to develop a Homelessness Charter. The Council was looking at how the number of shelters could be increased for next winter. £1.17m had been invested in supported accommodation for single people. The cold weather provisions were being reviewed this year. Clearer guidance on rough sleepers would be issued and a joint approach would be developed to address the needs of individuals and identify what interventions they needed.

A Member then moved that the petition be referred to Cabinet for consideration, together with the comments made by the Committee.

Decision:

The Committee agreed to refer the petition to Cabinet for consideration, together with the comments made by the Committee as set out above.