Issue - meetings

Report of the Housing Services Manager

The Committee received the report (as set out in pages 10 - 13) which asked it to decide upon a considered response in relation to Leicestershire County Council’s (LCC) draft model for homelessness and housing support.

It was reported that should LCC’s proposal be approved, the existing ‘Housing Matters’ services would be discontinued and that this Council would not be able to replicate the services currently provided by LCC with the existing resources available, or lack thereof.

With regards to LCC’s new draft model, the Committee agreed with Officers’ assessment that the proposal would have damaging consequences for a number of residents within the Borough. Members raised concerns regarding the lack of clear information given by LCC for the dates of public consultation, arguing that residents should be made aware of the proposal and have the opportunity to submit their points of view on this matter.

It was moved by Councillor J W Boyce, seconded by K J Loydall and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       Leicestershire County Council’s draft model and the window for consultation be noted;

(ii)     A formal consultation response be submitted by the Director of Finance & Transformation following consultation with the Chair of the Committee; and

(iii)   The Chair of the Committee write to Leicestershire County Council asking them to publish the rationale behind their decision to maintain the Falcon Centre Hostel in preference to maintaining the Housing Matters Floating Support contract.