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 Oszen and Cllr Selman.

1.3 Cllr Joseph, Cllr Sadek and Cllr Rathbone were in online attendance.

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

3.1 In relation to item 4, the Deputy Cabinet Member for Homelessness & Housing Needs declared that she was a Governor at North East London NHS Foundation Trust.

4.1 The Chair opened the item by explaining that the discussion followed on from the meeting held on 22nd November 2023, where the Commission looked at the local context for supported accommodation for single homeless people with complex needs, including current provision, its benefits, and future demand.

4.2 During the discussion the Commission heard that the main barriers to increasing provision in Hackney in line with future need included access to funding sources and identifying suitable sites. The Commission was therefore keen to further explore the challenges and opportunities in developing supported accommodation for this cohort locally, and to look at the ways in which improved partnership working could potentially unlock opportunities for increased provision.

4.3 As part of the scrutiny process, members undertook site visits to supported accommodation schemes in Camden and Hackney. An overview report from these visits is included with the agenda papers. 

4.4 Representing London Borough of Hackney

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

·  Jennifer Wynter, Assistant Director Benefits & Housing Needs

·  Beverley Gachette, Strategic Commissioning Lead, Rough Sleeping and Homelessness

4.5 Representing City & Hackney Public Health

·  Chris Lovitt, Deputy Director of Public Health

·  Simon Young, Principal Public Health Specialist & Substance Misuse Partnership Lead

4.6 Representing NHS North East London Integrated Care Board / City & Hackney Place Based Partnership

·  Amy Wilkinson, Director of Partnerships, Impact and Delivery

4.7 Representing NHS North East London

·  Ellie Hobart, Deputy Director of Health Improvement & Inclusion, NHS North East London

·  Cindy Fischer, Senior Manager Unplanned Care, NHS North East London

4.8 Attending from the Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission

·  Cllr Claudia Turbot-Delof

·  Cllr Kam Adams

4.9 It was noted that apologies had been received from the Deputy Mayor for Delivery, Inclusive Economy & Regeneration and officers covering housing strategy, housing delivery and corporate property. The discussion would therefore focus on the work of health partners in supporting this cohort locally and the opportunities for further collaboration in this area.

4.10 The Chair then invited the Deputy Director of Health Improvement & Inclusion and Senior Manager Unplanned Care at NHS North East London (NEL) to give a verbal presentation. The main points are highlighted below.

4.11 Strategy and policy around addressing the health needs of homeless people and wider health inclusion groups was guided by various national and regional documents. This included the homelessness commissioning guidance for London, the Rough Sleeping Strategy, Core20PLUSS and the NICE guidelines, and most recently national guidance for NHS action on inclusion health.

4.12 NHS NEL defined homelessness as including; rooflessness (without a shelter, sleeping rough on the streets); houselessness (a place to sleep but it is temporary, in institutions or a shelter including refugee and asylum seekers); living in insecure housing (threatened with severe exclusion due to insecure tenancies, eviction, domestic violence, or staying with family and friends); and living in inadequate housing (in caravans on illegal campsites, extreme overcrowding).

4.13 The case for action in addressing the health needs of those experiencing homelessness was clear. Health outcomes remained poor,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.1 The Chair explained that the Commission held a discussion on the draft Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024-26 on 18th September 2023, which enabled members to challenge how the strategy would be delivered, how the Council had considered risks, and the key measures of success before it was adopted by Cabinet.

5.2 Following the meeting, the Commission brought together its findings and sent a letter to the Executive outlining its recommendations. The response from the Executive to the letter was received on 30th January 2024.

5.3 It was explained that the Commission would be following up on progress made against key commitments in the strategy, particularly around increasing permanent and temporary housing, supporting residents with multiple and complex needs and youth homelessness.

5.4 Members noted the Executive response to the Commission's findings in relation to the Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024-26, and the next steps in terms of following up the recommendations and findings.

6.1 The draft minutes of the meetings held on 11th December 2023 and 22nd January 2024 were agreed as an accurate record.

7.1 The Chair referred to the Commission’s work programme and highlighted the discussion items planned for the remainder of the municipal year.

7.2 It was noted that the Commission would be looking primarily at the draft Private Sector Housing Strategy 2024-29 at our next meeting in March, and would receive a brief update on progress and timelines in regard to the new Housing Strategy 2024-29.

7.3 The Intermediate Housing Panel had not yet begun its work. Its interim findings were likely to be presented to the Commission in Autumn 2024.

8.1 None.