Agenda and minutes

1.1 The Chair updated those in attendance on the meeting etiquette and that the meeting was being recorded and livestreamed.

1.2 Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Adejare (Chair), Cllr Maxwell and Cllr Rathbone.

1.3 As Vice-Chair, Cllr Joseph would chair the meeting.

2.1 There were no urgent items, and the order of business was as set out in the agenda.

3.1 There were no declarations of interest.

4.1 The Chair opened the item by explaining that the Commission was keen to hear about the development of the Council’s draft Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy, which was due to be presented to Cabinet later in the year.

4.2 The Commission saw this discussion as timely, giving members an opportunity to challenge how the strategy will be delivered, how the Council had considered any risks and the key measures of success before it was adopted.

4.3 Representing London Borough of Hackney

·  Cllr Sade Etti, Deputy Cabinet Member for Homelessness & Housing Needs

·  Rob Miller, Strategic Director Customer & Workplace

·  Jennifer Wynter, Assistant Director of Benefits & Housing Needs

·  Andrew Croucher, Operations Manager

4.4 External Guests

·  Sally Caldwell, Strategy & Transformation Consultant

·  Helen Lewis, Associate Consultant, Homeless Link

4.5 The Chair then invited the Deputy Cabinet Member for Homelessness & Housing Needs, Council officers and external guests to give a short verbal presentation. The main points are highlighted below.

4.6 Much of the housing crisis had been driven by issues that the Council was not in control of. This included central government policies on austerity measures, house building, rent controls, immigration and economic policy. This was in addition to the pandemic and cost of living crisis which had deepened and accelerated its impacts.

4.7 There were other ongoing issues which were affecting the Council’s ability to deliver, such as Local Housing Allowance having been frozen since 2011, welfare reform, short term and limited temporary accommodation funding and housing affordability. Government commitment to address the housing market crisis and other homelessness issues had been limited.

4.8 There had also been more recent developments which were impacting the Council’s ability to deliver. This included a volatile housing market, shrinking private sector with Buy to Let landlords leaving the market, and the temporary accommodation crisis in London.

4.9 There was an unprecedented demand for accommodation in Hackney, including from Home Office Asylum Seekers Programme, Afghanistan and Ukraine Resettlement Programmes, and increasing homelessness due to overcrowding and conflict.

4.10 There was a need to stabilise funding streams from different government departments (for example the funding from the Rough Sleeper Initiative, health, adult social care and substance misuse) to reduce uncertainty around service delivery, and the recent funding settlement meant that Hackney was under-resourced.

4.11 Homeless Link was the national membership charity for non-statutory frontline homelessness services and worked in partnership with the Council and homeless charities in the borough, and had been commissioned to support the development of the strategy.

4.12 Work to refresh the new strategy over the past year had included a review of the local, London and national policy context and analysis of data relating to homelessness gathered by the Council, local health services and mental health services.

4.13 It also included consultation with a wide range of stakeholders such as Council departments, external partners like the NHS, commissioned providers, voluntary and community organisations and central government, as well as people with lived experience of homelessness in Hackney.

4.14 A range of key issues  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.1 The Chair explained that, at the joint Living in Hackney and Children & Young People Scrutiny Commissions follow up discussion on the partnership response to the Child Q incident held on 25th April 2023, it was agreed that the Chairs would write to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) expressing its concerns regarding the delay in the publication of its report into the conduct of police officers involved in the incident.

5.2 The Chair then drew Members attention to the IOPC announcement the completion of its investigation on 14th September. It determined that three officers should face gross misconduct hearings for potential breaches of police standards, including allegations that Child Q was discriminated against by them because of her race and sex. A fourth officer would face a misconduct hearing relating to there being no appropriate adult present during the strip search.

5.3 It would be important to continue to monitor and review the partnership work in response to the incident, including the outcome of this investigation and the second report from City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership published in June. The Chair would therefore be meeting with the Chair of the Living in Hackney and Children & Young People Scrutiny Commission to plan and agree the next steps and will update members in due course.

5.4 Members noted the agreed letter and the process and timescale for following it up.

6.1 The Chair explained that, following the discussion held on 23rd January 2023 on the policing of drug use in Hackney, the Commission had brought together its findings and sent a letter to the Community Safety Partnership and Mayor’s Office for Police & Crime (MOPAC) seeking assurances in several key areas.

6.2 It was noted that there was a typo in the cover sheet. The response from the Community Safety Partnership and MOPAC to the letter was received on 17th August, rather than 19th September.

6.3 In terms of following up this piece of work, the Chair suggested that the Commission may want to request an update from MOPAC on the success of the Local Policing Scrutiny Panel pilot and plans for work in subsequent years and beyond at the appropriate stage.

6.4 A Commission Member asked for further information on the Serious Violence & Gangs Board, namely on the process and timelines for the election of a Chair and its work programme. The Chair agreed to follow this up in writing after the meeting.

6.5 Members noted the letter and response to the findings of the scrutiny session on the policing of drug use.

7.1 The Chair explained that the Overview & Scrutiny Public Engagement Protocol was agreed by Scrutiny Panel at its meeting on 13th July 2023.

7.2 The protocol was developed to provide guidance and information to scrutiny councillors, officers and the public to support public engagement in the scrutiny process in response to technological changes and efforts to increase resident participation.

7.3 A Commission Member suggested that Overview & Scrutiny look to develop a feedback mechanism for those members of the public who engage in its work to inform future work and any suggestions for improvement.

7.4 Members are asked to note the Overview & Scrutiny Public Engagement Protocol.

8.1 The draft minutes of the previous meeting on 10th July 2023 were presented.

8.2 Members agreed the draft minutes as an accurate record.

9.1 The Chair explained that the item was to consider and agree the Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission work programme for the 2023/24 municipal year.

9.2 The draft work programme had been drafted by the Chair and Vice-Chair taking into consideration the suggestions made by Commission Members, as well as suggestions made in the public survey and by key stakeholders.

9.3 The Chair then invited Commission Members to make any comments on the 2023/24 work programme.

9.4 A Commission Member asked whether the Commission would undertake a formal review during the 2023/24 year. It was explained that the possibility of a review into the Council’s approach to the long-term viability and future use of community halls had been explored, but was not possible this year. A briefing would instead be provided later in the year, which may be used to launch a review in the next municipal year.

9.5 A Commission Member asked about how the Commission was fulfilling its statutory role in respect of scrutinising the Community Safety Partnership. It was explained that the Commission scrutinises the Community Safety Partnership at least once a year, often taking the approach of looking at a themed area which falls under its statutory responsibility.

9.6 Members agreed the work programme for the Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission for the 2023/24 municipal year.

10.1 None.