Content

Declarations of
interest for this item:
 
None
 
RESOLVED:
 
That Cabinet:
 

1.   
Approved the Draft Homelessness Strategy attached at
Appendix 1 for formal consultation as set out in this
report
 

2.   
Noted that, following that consultation, officers
will bring back to Cabinet a draft new Homelessness Strategy for
2025-2027 for adoption.
 
Reasons for
decision
 
The Homelessness Act 2002 (“the
Act”) 
requires local authorities to carry out a homelessness
review and formulate and publish a homelessness strategy informed
by that review at least once every five years. The Draft Strategy
proposed here for consultation has been developed over the course
of more than a year with considerable engagement from a wide range
of stakeholders, including people with lived experience of
homelessness and organisations working to support them. If the
draft is approved by Cabinet, the council will consult as set out
in this report before developing an amended, final version of a
Homelessness Strategy for adoption in December 2025.
 
Alternative options
considered
 
Cabinet could decide not to adopt the Draft
Strategy proposed here. This is not recommended because to do so
would delay the adoption of a strategy that the Council is required
by law to have in place. Further, the Council is required to take
its Homelessness Strategy into account in the exercise of its
functions as a local housing authority, and it requires updating
for this purpose.