Report of the Director of Homelessness

This report provides the high-level budget context and priorities for Homelessness across 2021/22 and is an update to the report presented to Neighbourhoods and Environment Scrutiny 13 January 2021, which has been used for the development of savings proposals 2021/22 and investment requirements to fund population driven and other budget pressures.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Homelessness that provided the high-level budget context and priorities for Homelessness across 2021/22 and was an update to the report presented to Neighbourhoods and Environment Scrutiny 13 January 2021, which had been used for the development of savings proposals 2021/22 and investment requirements to fund population driven and other budget pressures.

The Committee was invited to comment on the report prior to it being considered by Executive.

The main points and themes within the report included: -

·         The report set out a one year budget for 2021/22, however the longer term implications had been considered and those were considered in the Council’s medium term financial planning;

·         The report had been updated to reflect the Comprehensive Spending Review and Financial Settlement for the City Council which had resulted in a reduction in the Homelessness savings target of £0.5m;

·         Describing the Budget Strategy for the Homelessness Service;

·         Describing the uncertainty of short-term funding, noting that 2020/21 Homelessness budget is supported by significant non-recurrent one-off funding;

·         Providing an overview of the Service Transformation Programme and the savings proposals;

·         The approach to savings would be based on the proposed Service Transformation Programme which gave a strategic direction and framework to services, based on a focus of outcomes and partnerships; and

·         An update on the Covid-19 response and Everyone In, externally commissioned homelessness services and homelessness management.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         Noting and welcoming the commitment to continue funding the Everyone In programme beyond March 2021; and

·         What support was being offered to those citizens accessing the Everyone In programme to support them into suitable accommodation’

The Executive Member for Skills, Culture and Leisure stated that despite the promises made to Manchester and all other local authorities that financial assistance would be made available to support councils to accommodate homeless people during the pandemic this had not been provided. He described this as a failure of government, however despite this Manchester had responded to the situation and sought to support the most vulnerable residents in the city in a dignified and appropriate manner and he reiterated his call upon the government to fund Manchester appropriately and fairly. 

The Executive Member for Skills, Culture and Leisure described the challenge to plan and deliver innovative schemes and programmes to tackle homelessness due to the short term approach and piecemeal funding arrangements provided to local authorities, stating that long term appropriate levels of funding was required.

The Director of Homelessness stated that the Everyone In programme had allowed for the delivery of wrap around support services to be provided to homeless people with the intention to support people into appropriate housing solutions, including commissioned supported accommodation. In reply to a specific question regarding staffing he informed the Committee that the FTE reduction saving identified would be achieved through either voluntary severance or retirement.

The Chair stated that the work of the homelessness team and all of the voluntary organisations working across the city was important and valued in addressing homelessness and supporting vulnerable citizens in Manchester.

Decision

The Committee endorse the savings proposals identified to the Executive.