To receive a verbal update.

The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnershipsinformed Members that there had been a significant increase in reported antisocial behaviour over the last six months. Members were informed that this had been attributed to street dwellers; an increase in their number had also been noticed. The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnerships stated that the Council was determined to provide solutions for street dwellers, acknowledging many of them suffered complex and difficult personal circumstances. These measures included emergency overnight accommodation and travel warrants, which meant that the Council was outstripping its minimum statutory responsibilities laid down by the SWEP. The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnerships said that offers of temporary accommodation were frequently made, but these were not always accepted. Temporary accommodation was available in Windsor and Maidenhead, but the Council also used accommodation in Slough, Reading and Southall. Individuals would be supplied with a travel warrant to take them to these locations; in the event of needing to return to the Royal Borough in order to attend appointments or see family members, a return warrant would be issued.

Members were informed that Housing Options and the Council’s Community Wardens had been speaking to homeless people in order to get a better understanding of their unique circumstances and assessing their needs. The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnerships said that a multi-agency group had been developing a strategy, and it was hoped this strategy would be formally adopted after a report was considered by Cabinet on February 22^nd. Responding to a question from Cllr Quick, The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnerships said it was hoped the arrangements between the Council and Thames Valley Police regarding security concerns relating to street dwellers would be addressed in time for them to be included in the report to Cabinet, to ensure each party’s responsibilities for enforcement.

Responding to a question from Cllr Jones, The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnershipssaid in most cases it was possible to identify a specific time and location for a report of antisocial behaviour, and in a number of instances it was possible to identify an individual perpetrator. However this was not always possible as sometimes there would be more than one person in the same location. There had been challenges in compiling the reports on antisocial behaviour as complaints were not always going to the right department. The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnershipsinformed members that it was hoped the complaints process could be refined.

The Chairman asked about reports in national newspapers that claimed street dwellers were being housed in temporary accommodation in Southall containing rats. The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnerships said officers had checked the accommodation in question and were satisfied that the reports were not accurate.

The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnershipsclarified that if an offer of temporary accommodation was made, it would be applicable for that evening. There were no budget constraints that would prevent this from happening. The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnershipssaid places would be found for everyone who wanted one on any given night. He added that of the known street dwellers in Windsor, there was a group of eight who had never accepted an offer of temporary accommodation. Of the main group of 14 known street dwellers in Windsor, six had been known to the Council for more than 12 months.

Members were informed that the Council had taken part in the annual Rough Sleeping Count on the night of November 1-2, where 11 street dwellers had been counted. Of those, nine were male and two female, and seven were sleeping in Windsor and four in Maidenhead. The Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnershipsstated that that figure was likely to have increased since the survey was carried out. There were no street dwellers known to the Council in Ascot or the Sunnings. By way of comparison, the 2016 Rough Sleep Count had counted two people sleeping rough.

Cllr Saunders said it was important that the Council had an unambiguous policy on their requirements to deliver affordable and social housing to help combat the problem, especially as it was forcefully dealt with in the emerging Borough Local Plan. He also expressed his frustration at private developers not prioritising affordable and social housing.

Cllr Mrs Rayner stated that she was meeting the Windsor Homelessness Project later in the week to discuss ways the Council could help them. It was agreed that she would report back on the meeting at the next Panel.

The Chairman thanked the Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnershipsfor his team’s work on this project and asked if there was anything that Members could do to support it.