Purpose

Approve the proposed one round of consultation
to commence immediately, which will run for the duration of 8
weeks, which will help to facilitate the formulation of a new draft
Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeper Strategy which is on the
Forward Plan for May 2026.

Decision

 

ROTHERHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF OFFICER EXECUTIVE DECISION

 

Date of Decision:

23rd June 2025

Title:

Consultation on the review of the Homelessness Prevention and
Rough Sleeper Strategy 2023-2026 to facilitate the formulation of a
new strategy.

Decision Maker:
(Including Job
Title)

Ian
Spicer, Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public
Health
 

Details of Specific Cabinet
Delegation
or Delegation contained in the
relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.
 

Section 4c3: STRATEGIC DIRECTOR
OF ADULT CARE, HOUSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH – DELEGATED
EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS
The Strategic Director of Adult
Care, Housing and Public Health is authorised to discharge
executive functions through the commissioning and provision of
social services for adults and public health services for the whole
population and delivery of housing for the Borough, including:
-
2. Housing (d) Housing
Options

This is further supplemented by that the
current strategy was approved by Cabinet in March 2023 and
published in April 2023. (3-year strategy). The Strategy is set to
expire, necessitating a review and refresh. Under Section 1(1) of
the 2002 Act, the Council is obligated to: (a) Conduct a
homelessness review for their district. (b) Formulate and publish a
homelessness strategy based on the review's findings.
 

Decision:

Approve the proposed one round of
consultation to commence immediately, which will run for the
duration of 8 weeks, which will help to facilitate the formulation
of a new draft Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeper Strategy
which is on the Forward Plan for May 2026.
 

Reasons for the
Decision:

The Homelessness Code of
Guidance, states that Housing authorities must consult
public or local authorities, voluntary organisations, or other
persons as they consider appropriate before adopting or modifying a
homelessness strategy. It also states that Housing authorities may
also wish to consult with service users and specialist agencies
that provide support to homeless people in the
district.
Best practice includes engaging
with people with lived experience of homelessness. This was
demonstrated in the development of the current Homelessness
Prevention and Rough Sleeper Strategy 2023-2026.
Although significant progress has
been achieved during the current strategy period, housing services
have encountered new challenges related to the six priorities.
These challenges include the continued cost-of-living crisis
impacting households, a shortage of affordable housing, and changes
in the private rental market.

During the current term of the
Rotherham’s Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeper
Strategy there has been a change in central government.
The new government is planning to
publish the updated Homelessness Strategy in mid-2025. This
Strategy will likely address current challenges and outline new
priorities and initiatives to tackle homelessness more
effectively.

Despite the key issues noted above,
Housing Services does not anticipate that the refreshed strategy
will propose extensive changes to the existing strategy, given that
the current strategy was approved in March 2023.

Details of alternative
options considered and rejected:

Refresh the current strategy
without consultation.
 
Preferred option for the
following reasons:
Consultation Approach:

It is proposed to proceed with a
streamlined, single-round consultation approach, considering the
extensive engagement and consultation previously conducted in
2022/23 for the current Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeper
Strategy 2023-2026.

Consultation Themes:

The consultation will focus on
presenting the key aims and six priorities of the current Strategy
(2023-26). The Council will seek feedback from stakeholders and
residents on the following areas:

Whether the priorities remain relevant to
Rotherham.

How the Council can support the achievement of these
aims and priorities.

Any additional key homelessness issues that should
be included in the next Strategy (2026-2031), which is proposed as
a five-year plan to allow for a longer implementation
period.

There is no legal requirement for an extensive
consultation period. The Local Government Association suggests, as
best practice, a consultation of 6-12 weeks.The proposed approach
allows for a consultation period within this range.
Consultation
Methods: The formulation
Online public survey which will run for 8-weeks in the summer of
2025, internal/external meetings, forums, targeted focus groups,
including people with lived experience, to run alongside this
period
 

Conflicts of interest
declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker
which relates to the decision:

None

Dispensations
Granted:
(If any)

None

Reports or parts of
reports considered

Homelessness and Prevention & Rough
Sleeper Strategy 2023-2026 

 
I
certify that this is a true record of the executive decision to
….
 
Approve an, one round, 8-week
consultation to start immediately, aiding the formulation of a new
draft Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeper Strategy, scheduled
for the Forward Plan in May 2026.
 
Signed by the Decision Maker  

Dated:         
23/06/25
 
Name:
         Ian
Spicer                        
Job
Title:    Strategic Director of Adults,
Housing & Public Health