Issue - meetings

Report No:   CAB/JT/18/005

Portfolio Holder: Cllr Sara Mildmay-White, West Suffolk Lead for Housing

Lead Officer: Davina Howes

RESOLVED:

That the designed version of West Suffolk Homelessness Reduction Strategy  2018-2023, attached as Appendix 1 to Report No: CAB/JT/18/005, be approved.

The Joint Committee considered the above report, which presented a revised West Suffolk Homelessness Reduction Strategy for the period 2018-2023, which had been recommended for approval by FHDC and SEBC’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

The Homelessness Reduction Act 2002 required all councils to review and produce a new homelessness strategy at least every five years. A review of West Suffolk’s existing strategy was due in 2018 and following the introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, which brought in a number of fundamental changes to legislation and additional duties, these had been reflected in the new West Suffolk Homelessness Reduction Strategy 2018-2023 (Appendix 1 attached to the report.) 

The report summarised how the review was undertaken and the action proposed to be taken to deliver the five priorities set out in the Strategy.

Councillor Sara Mildmay-White, West Suffolk’s Lead for Housing, drew relevant issues to the attention of the Joint Committee, including thanking both Overview and Scrutiny Committees for their consideration of the revised Strategy and its five priorities.  Both Committees had felt it addressed all areas and therefore no amendments had been proposed by either Committee.  

Councillor Mildmay-White congratulated West Suffolk’s Homelessness Reduction team and others involved, for their efforts towards producing the Strategy and she looked forward to the outcomes of the actions outlined in the proposed delivery plan, attached as Appendix B to the Strategy.

Members then noted that the West Suffolk councils had been successful in securing external funding from central government for at least one year to assist with reducing rough sleeping and homelessness in West Suffolk.

Councillors Simon Cole and Diane Hind, Chairmen of the FHDC and SEBC Overview and Scrutiny Committees respectively, were invited to speak on this matter.

The Joint Committee acknowledged the importance of the Strategy and how the depth and scope of the review had contributed to a comprehensive understanding of the key issues facing West Suffolk regarding this area.

RESOLVED:

That the designed version of West Suffolk Homelessness Reduction Strategy  2018-2023, attached as Appendix 1 to Report No: CAB/JT/18/005, be approved.