Content

(Report of Director of Planning, Housing and
Environmental Health)
 
The report outlined a proposal to develop a
standalone Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, as required
under the Homelessness Act 2021 and within the context of a UK wide
housing crisis, setting out how the Council would continue to
tackle this increase in demand, and to ensure homelessness was
prevented at the earliest opportunity and a range of housing
options were available for those who had lost their homes.
 
The proposed approach of undertaking a
comprehensive evidence base review of the challenges faced at a
national, regional and local levels by the district, involving key
stakeholders including Members and key partners, which would then
be used to inform the development of a draft strategy and an
associated action plan, was supported by Members.
 
In addition, the proposed timetable leading to
the adoption of the strategy by Cabinet on 3 March 2026, following
consideration of a draft strategy by the Scrutiny Select Committee
on 2 December 2025 before undertaking a public consultation in
December 2025 / January 2026, was noted.
 
Finally, Members were pleased to note that a
contract to deliver the Rough Sleeper Prevention and Recovery
Services for the borough had been awarded to Porchlight until the
end of the financial year pending further grant funding from the
Government.
 
Following consideration by the Housing and
Planning Scrutiny Select Committee, the Cabinet Member for Housing,
Environment and Economy
 
RESOLVED: 
That
 

(1)         
the approach to the development of a draft Homelessness and Rough
Sleeping Strategy for consultation, be endorsed;
 

(2)         
the engagement of key stakeholders, including Members and key
partners, to assist and inform the development of the draft
strategy, be agreed; and
 

(3)         
the proposed timetable which aimed to present a draft strategy to
Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee on 2 December 2025
with a final draft following consultation to be presented to
Cabinet on 3 March 2026, be agreed.