To comment on the report to be considered by Cabinet on the 30 June 2016.

The Head of Commissioning - Adult, Children and Health informed the Panel that the report sought approval for the use of two Council owned properties by a voluntary organisation to provide services for homeless residents in Maidenhead on a pilot basis.  It was noted that both properties were currently vacant and were part of the council’s commercial property portfolio.

Members were informed that the first property would be used to provide day services for homeless residents, including access to washing facilities, clean clothes and food with the potential for limited emergency overnight accommodation.  It was noted that the other property would be used to provide time limited accommodation for a small number of residents as a halfway house before moving into suitable accommodation.  The Head of Commissioning - Adult, Children and Health informed the Panel that residents in the halfway house would be accessing the standard therapeutic rehabilitation services delivered through the Drug and Alcohol Action Team to enable them to make the transition.  It was noted that this provision would work in partnership with the other services already working with homeless residents in the Borough and which are supported by the Royal Borough through support contracts.

In the ensuing discussion the following points were noted:

Ø  That it was two years continuous residence.

Ø  Jason Veradaguer, who currently resided in the tent outside the Town Hall, questioned why the former Leader of the Council had spent £20k to put up wore fencing when it could have been spent on homeless people.  Councillor Burbage explained that the fence was not his decision and that he had been pleased when it had been taken down.

Ø  Jason Veradaguer informed Members that he did not want to live in a tent, especially at 46 years of age.  It was noted that Jason had found Councillor Dudley to have been very accommodating of his situation.

Ø  Jason Veradaguer questioned why there were eighteen new builds in Woodlands Park that were about to be demolished when they could be used by the homeless in the Royal Borough.

Ø  The Head of Commissioning - Adult, Children and Health stated that she would be happy to look at a halfway house option.

Ø  Councillor David Evans stated that he believed the number of homeless residents in the Royal Borough should be included in the report.

Ø  That the day service could accommodate 80 people.

Ø  That the residential service could accommodate 10-12 bed spaces, not necessarily to be used at the same time.

Ø  That in addition to the accommodation the Council would be providing a whole range of services which would include therapeutic rehabilitation services, education, mentoring, etc which was not detailed in the report.  It was noted that this detail would be specified in the S106 detail.

Ø  Jason Veradaguer informed the Panel that he believed there to be between 40-50 people born in the Royal Borough that were currently sleeping rough in car parks, in the subways, behind the Library, etc.  Itr was noted that Jason believed approximately 95% of the homeless in the Royal Borough would want to be housed. 

Ø  Jason Veradaguer informed the Panel that he had lived in the Royal Borough all his life and was a homeless builder.  It was noted that Jason simply wanted somewhere to live so he could return to working as a builder. 

Ø  Jason Veradaguer stated that he believed the proposals outlined in the report would benefit the homeless in the Royal Borough.

The Planning & Housing Overview & Scrutiny Panel commented that they would like to see an indication ASAP of the speed in which these proposals could be implemented if approved by Cabinet, the prioritisation of how it could happen and who would benefit.  The Panel hoped the target of the 01 April 2017 could be brought forward. 

The Planning & Housing Overview & Scrutiny Panel asked what the Councils plans were with regard to getting empty homes in the Royal Borough back in use.  The Head of Commissioning - Adult, Children and Health agreed to take that question away and provide a response.

It was requested that an update be brought back to the Planning & Housing Overview & Scrutiny Panel in December.

The Planning & Housing Overview & Scrutiny Panel unanimously agreed to recommend to Cabinet the following:

i)   Approves the use of two Council-owned properties for a day service and emergency housing for homeless residents.

ii)  Delegates authority to the Managing Director/Strategic Director Adult, Children and Health Services and Strategic Director Corporate and Community Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to apply for all necessary consents and permissions to enable the recommendation i) and to finalise the details of the Service Level Agreement.