The Cabinet of Southwark Council met on Wednesday 17 January 2024 to discuss revisions to the temporary accommodation placement policy and the creation of a new senior management post. The Cabinet approved revisions to the existing temporary accommodation placement policy.

Placement Policy for Temporary Accommodation and Private Rented Sector Offers

The Cabinet approved revisions to the existing temporary accommodation placement policy, which aims to ensure a more efficient and fair approach to homelessness prevention and securing the best possible outcomes for vulnerable residents. The revised policy combines the Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy and the Private Rented Sector Offer Policy, moving to a single offer of suitable accommodation rather than two. This change is intended to streamline the process, focus efforts on meeting suitability criteria, and reduce the time residents may spend in expensive nightly paid accommodation. The policy also emphasizes the importance of suitability assessments, considering factors such as affordability, safety, medical needs, and location, with particular attention paid to the impact on children's education, including exam schedules and special educational needs. The policy acknowledges that due to housing shortages, placements may increasingly be located outside of Southwark, but prioritises in-borough or nearby accommodation for those with specific needs. A robust transfer process for households requiring moves due to unsuitable accommodation or changing circumstances has also been outlined. The policy will be reviewed annually, taking into account service user feedback.

Creation of a New Senior Management Post: Director, Communications, Engagement and Change

The Cabinet approved the creation of a new senior management post: Director, Communications, Engagement and Change. This role is intended to support the council's ambitious Southwark 2030 strategy, which aims to deliver a community co-designed vision for the borough by the end of the decade. The Director will be responsible for spearheading the council's communications strategy, engagement approach, and leading on the design of future services to best deliver the 2030 strategy and wider council transformation priorities. This new role will work directly with communities and partners across Southwark to enhance community capacity and realign community relationships. The creation of this post is a response to feedback received during consultations on senior management arrangements and aims to bring together communications, engagement, strategy, and change functions under senior leadership. The role will report to the Assistant Chief Executive, Strategy and Communities, and will deputise for this role as required. The cost of the post will be funded from existing departmental staffing budgets and the corporate capacity building reserve.

Housing Revenue Account - Final Rent and Charges Report 2024-25

The Cabinet agreed to a rent increase of 7.7% for all directly and tenant-managed housing stock within the council's Housing Revenue Account (HRA), in line with the government's guideline rent formula of CPI+1%. This increase, effective from 1 April 2024, also applies to the council's shared ownership stock. Tenant service charges for estate cleaning, grounds maintenance, communal lighting, and door entry maintenance will also increase, as will sheltered housing service charges. Charges for garages and other non-residential facilities will see an increase broadly in line with CPI. The Cabinet noted that a review of the garage charging policy, including the concessionary scheme, will be undertaken with resident consultation. Increases to tenant heating charges, including metered charges, were also agreed. These decisions are being made in the context of significant budget challenges for the HRA, including increased building safety requirements, inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, and a rent cap, which have impacted the HRA's financial resilience. The council highlighted that rent increases remain eligible for welfare benefits and that financial support schemes are in place for those most in need.

Policy and Resources Strategy: Capital Monitoring Report 2023-24

The Cabinet noted the significant funding requirements for the General Fund capital programme (£263m) and the Housing Investment Programme (£1.7bn) over the remaining term of the programmes. They also noted the mitigating actions being taken to ensure the affordability and sustainability of the Housing Investment Programme, which is facing economic risks from rising interest rates and inflation. The Cabinet approved virements and variations to the general fund and housing investment capital programme, as well as new capital bids detailed in the report. These new bids include significant investment in leisure facilities, digital transformation, and the maintenance of operational buildings. The report highlighted the ongoing challenges within the Housing Investment Programme due to rising construction and financing costs, leading to a review of affordability and a potential reduction in the pace of borrowing.

Policy and Resources Strategy: Revenue Monitoring Report, 2023-24

The Cabinet noted the forecast outturn position for the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account (HRA), and Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the 2023-24 financial year. The General Fund is forecasting an adverse variance of £3.4m, with ongoing pressures in temporary accommodation, 'No Recourse to Public Funds' (NRPF) cases, and home to school transport. Mitigating actions are in place to manage these pressures. The HRA is forecasting an adverse variance of £16.8m, attributed to government rent policy, inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, and energy costs. The council is assessing short-term and long-term measures to ensure the HRA's financial sustainability. The DSG is forecasting an adverse variance of £0.4m, an improvement from previous reporting, and is on target to meet the Safety Valve agreement. The Cabinet approved interdepartmental budget movements exceeding £250k and the proposed approach to reduce the HRA revenue contribution to capital to preserve reserves and fund the capital asset management programme through borrowing.

Motions Referred from Council Assembly

The Cabinet considered several motions referred from Council Assembly on 22 November 2023. These motions covered a range of topics including:

• Giving our children and young people the best start in life: This motion highlighted the council's existing work in delivering excellent schools, free healthy school meals, mental health support, youth justice services, and the Youth New Deal. It also acknowledged the need for increased investment in early intervention and prevention due to funding cuts and rising complex needs. The motion called for prioritising closing the gap in life chances, increasing early identification of SEND, ensuring school readiness, expanding the 'start for life' programme, developing a multi-agency offer to support families, and empowering local communities through Family Hubs. It also urged national government to break down barriers to opportunity, reform childcare, recruit more teachers, expand apprenticeships, and introduce a cross-departmental strategy to end homelessness.
• Protecting Southwark Parks from Anti-Social Behaviour: This motion acknowledged the value residents place on the council's parks and green spaces, highlighting ongoing investment in improvements, tree planting, and community engagement. It noted the work of park officers in tackling anti-social behaviour through education and, when necessary, further action. The motion resolved to continue working with the police and residents to address anti-social behaviour, invest in park improvements, tackle the ecological emergency by increasing tree numbers and green spaces, and deliver more high-quality green spaces through community collaboration.
• Homelessness & Rough Sleeping: This motion highlighted the impact of government cuts on homelessness services, the rise in rough sleeping and homelessness figures, and the inadequacy of Local Housing Allowance rates. It noted Southwark's commitment to supporting those experiencing homelessness and refugees, and the vital role of public and voluntary sector partners. The motion resolved to write to government ministers requesting urgent action on LHA increases, additional funding for homelessness prevention, a review of Home Office policies, a cross-departmental strategy to end homelessness, and a long-term commitment to social rent homes. It also called for the publication of a winter plan, the development of a new homelessness strategy, and continued efforts to build affordable homes.
• Ending Violence Against Women and Girls: This motion acknowledged the prevalence of sexual violence, harassment, and domestic abuse, referencing tragic cases and statistics on conviction rates. It noted the council's existing strategy, the 'Through Her Eyes' campaign, and cross-borough initiatives like the 'safe havens' network. The motion resolved to encourage male councillors to take the White Ribbon pledge, call out misogyny, champion the wellbeing of women and girls, adopt a zero-tolerance approach to misogynistic hate crime, complete the roll-out of upgraded street lighting, and ask the Cabinet to re-launch the Women's Safety Charter.
• Towards a greater provision of public toilets: This motion noted the council's commitment to improving access to public toilets, the current provision of 33 public toilets, and the existence of seven Changing Places Toilets (CPTs). It highlighted changes to building regulations requiring CPTs in new builds and the council's securing of £120,000 to increase CPT provision. The motion resolved to open new CPTs, provide additional facilities to support pedestrian journeys, explore reinvigorating the Community Toilet Scheme, and continue the roll-out of sanitary product vending machines in council buildings.
• Southwark stands with the trans community: This motion noted Southwark's large and diverse LGBTQ+ community, including a significant trans and non-binary population, and the council's work with the community on LGBTQ+ centres and events. It expressed concern about the increase in hate crimes against trans people and attempts to create division. The motion resolved to stand united with trans, non-binary, and gender diverse people, reject divisive attempts, call on national government to introduce a trans-inclusive ban on conversion therapy, reform gender recognition law, and extend the aggravated offences regime for hate crimes. It also asked the Cabinet to prioritise the delivery of a permanent LGBTQ+ cultural space, develop an action plan to address inequalities, update the Equalities Framework, ensure access to services, create gender-neutral bathrooms, and maintain a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime.

The Cabinet decided to consider these motions, with any proposals treated as recommendations. The Cabinet can choose to note, agree, amend, or reject each motion.