Issue - meetings

Recommendation

Executive is asked to recommend approval of the homelessness and rough sleeping strategy 2025-2030 for adoption by Full Council.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Community Development presenting the draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030 for recommendation to full Council for adoption.

The Executive Member for Culture, Arts and Housing, Councillor Simon Myers, presented the report and strategy, which highlighted the work done by the Housing team in connecting with other teams within North Yorkshire Council and external partners to deal with the problems of homelessness and rough sleeping.  The Executive Member thanked the Housing team of Nic Harne, Andrew Rowe and Kim Robertshaw for their work on this and set out the main points of the strategy, which included:

·       Increasing the provision of suitable accommodation, particularly taking into consideration the withdrawal of private landlords from the market

·       Building new social housing – the second homes council tax premium was being spent on housing and strategies to bridge the affordability gap

·       Providing pathways to supported housing

·       Reducing rough sleeping and providing more supported accommodation for rough sleepers

·       Early engagement with tenants at risk of losing their homes

Executive Members expressed their support for the Strategy.  Councillor Michael Harrison referred to the work of the Harrogate Homelessness Project, who were supportive and were aligning their own strategy to this.  In response to a question Councillor Simon Myers advised that council house voids were reported quarterly.

Resolved (unanimously)

That the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-30 be recommended for adoption by Full Council.

Reasons for recommendation

The recommendation to full council for adoption of the strategy. The strategy was a legal requirement and supported positive outcomes for vulnerable individuals while ensuring effective resource use.