Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director – Housing and Revenues

The Assistant Director – Housing and Revenues submitted a report (previously circulated) requesting that consideration be given to the draft Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030 (also previously circulated) prior to approval by Cabinet on 4 March 2025.

The submitted report stated that Section 1(1) of the Homelessness Act 2002 requires housing authorities to carry out a homelessness review for their area and formulate and publish a homelessness strategy based on the results of the review every five years; and the Council’s previous Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy for 2019-2024 successfully delivered a number of aims and objectives to reduce homelessness and deliver the requirements of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

It was reported that over the past few years and particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Council has had to deal with a significant increase in demand for homeless services; and that whilst these services would normally work in a proactive way with clients to prevent homelessness, the increase in presentations and demand for temporary accommodation has meant that services have had to be more reactive to ensure that no-one is left homeless or having to rough sleep.

Members noted that the strategy had been developed with the support of local partners and organisations including Commissioning, Adult and Children’s Services, Health, Probation, the Police, social and private landlords and the voluntary sector; that it aimed to be a document that was owned by partners and the people of Darlington; and reference was made to the long term vision and the six co-produced key priority areas to achieve this vision. Members also noted the action plan contained within the strategy, setting out key actions to deliver the six priority areas.

Details were also provided of the Council’s statutory homeless duties and figures for increases in homelessness and costs.

Discussion ensued regarding the increase in homeless presentation, in particular for those leaving hospital/prison. Members were informed that the housing team worked closely with Darlington Memorial Hospital, attended discharge meetings and had a presence at West Park, to ensure that support was provided to those being discharged; and Members requested that the figures for hospital/prison be separated. Members queried those required to leave asylum seeker accommodation and noted that overall the number of asylum seekers housed in Darlington was low.

Discussion also ensued regarding ‘sofa surfers’; and those presenting homeless due to their property no longer being suitable due to ill health, noting the actions taken for these presentations.

RESOLVED – (a) That this Scrutiny Committee agrees to the onward submission of the draft Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030 to Cabinet.

(b) That the Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030 be reviewed by this Scrutiny Committee on an annual basis.