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Draft minutes
London Delivery Board
3.00pm, 24 June 2009
Committee Room 3, City Hall
Attendees
Richard Blakeway Greater London Authority (Chair)
Becky Rice Broadway
Jim Barber City of London
Michelle Binfield Communities and Local Government
Leslie Morphy Crisis
Simon Cribbens Greater London Authority
Gill Lawton Greater London Authority (Secretariat)
Jenny Edwards Homeless Link
Kathy Prior Jobcentre Plus
Michael Scorer LB Camden
Elizabeth Clowes LB Lambeth
Claire Linnane LB Southwark
Colin Cormack LB Tower Hamlets
Janet Haddington Westminster City Council
Nik Ward Westminster City Council
Dave Musker Metropolitan Police
Alexia Murphy St Mungos
Hannah Gregory United Kingdom Borders Agency
Apologies
Debra Levison Greater London Authority
Simon Tanner NHS London
Stephen Evans London Development Agency
Laura Johnson RB Kensington and Chelsea
Rosemary Westbrook Westminster City Council
Phil Richardson NOMS
Charles Fraser St Mungos
Jeremy Swain Thames Reach
Sharon Flannery United Kingdom Borders Agency
No Agenda item Action
.
1 Minutes of meeting held on 22 April 2009 and matters arising
The minutes of the last meeting on 22 April 2009 were agreed.
Matters arising
There was no discussion of matters arising as these were addressed within the
agenda.
2 Health issues
The presentation by Professor Aidan Halligan and update from NHS London were NHS
postponed until the next meeting. London
3 Broadway update
Becky Rice (Broadway) presented findings from CHAIN’s recently published research
– Profiling London’s rough sleepers
(http://broadway.jamkit.com/CHAIN/CHAINResearch/ProfilingLondonsRoughSle
epers) and headlines figures from the latest CHAIN annual monitoring report.
The presentation focussed on five key areas identified as priorities for the Board’s
consideration by the Homelessness Roundtable, and proposed responses in relation to
the issues raised.
i) Stemming the flow of rough sleepers onto the streets
More than half of rough sleepers each year are new to the streets. Three quarters of
these are seen in just one year, half of which are seen in just a one month period.
Suggested responses:
prevention is key to reducing numbers
services need to filter those who are new and have significant support needs, so
scarce services, such as hostels, are used most effectively, while rapid
interventions are provided for those with lower needs
better information is needed on the triggers of rough sleeping and on those who
flow onto the streets and remain
ii) Increasing the positive outcomes for people in short term accommodation (hostel,
rolling shelter etc)
Short term accommodation is used by 50 per cent of rough sleepers, of which four out
of ten are evicted from, or abandon accommodation. Younger people and long term
rough sleepers are at higher risk of eviction or abandoning accommodation. Hostels
stays are getting longer. Suggested responses:
effective routes into long term move-on from hostels is essential
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No Agenda item Action
.
monitoring of, and action to reduce eviction rates and minimise abandonment
diversify options for those with no support needs or who are not suitable for
standard hostels
iii) Enhance exit routes
Long term accommodation is succesful. Ninety per cent of Clearing House moves are
sustained. Reconnections are successful for over 60 per cent of cases. The longer
someone has slept rough the greater chance that accommodation or reconnection
solutions will fail. Suggested responses:
replication of Clearing House support model in the private rented sector
better planning of reconnections
improved offer for long term rough sleepers
iv) Effective response to support needs and prison background
Three quarter of rough sleepers have one or more support needs (mental health, drug
or alcohol). Drug problem and mental health problems have fallen among first time
rough sleepers, but alcohol problems have not. A quarter of new rough sleepers have a
prison background. Suggested responses:
more action and investment in addressing alcohol problems
improved information on link between prison discharge and rough sleeping
v) Migrant and refuges rough sleeping
Fifteen per cent of rough sleepers are form Central and Eastern European (CEE)
countries. Rough sleepers from CEE countries are just as likely to spend more than a
year on the streets as indigenous groups. Refugees will give up entitlements out of
London to return to the capital. There are strong misconceptions around social
housing entitlements among this group. Suggested responses:
improved employment and housing advice, better reconnection and greater
enforcement
planned management of impact of case resolution process
Latest annual figures from CHAIN show an increase of 15 per cent in the number of
people seen sleeping rough in 2008/09. Some of the increase relates to recording by
new outreach services in some areas such as Heathrow. More than half of the flow of
people on the streets are only seen once. UK nationals remain the largest single
group, accounting for 62 per cent of rough sleepers.
Michelle Binfield (CLG) raised issue of high proportion of Eritrean rough sleepers in
the context of the case resolution process that could lead to other groups drifting back
to London.
Hannah Gregory (UKBA) suggested that it is easier to take action where migrant UKBA
rough sleepers have not been in the UK for a long period. The sooner local authorities
can provide information to the UKBA the better. A recent ministerial statement now
allows the UKBA to take action against those not exercising treaty rights, rather than
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No Agenda item Action
.
just those causing harm; this requires further test cases to implement. UKBA will look
back at the Eritrean experience to see if more targeted support can be given through
the case resolution process to prevent future rough sleeping.
Richard Blakeway suggested improving CHAIN to record details of origin for CHAIN
migrant rough sleepers, to include details of the region of the country they are from,
to improve reconnection.
CHAIN data identifies a number of boroughs where over 100 rough sleepers have CLG /
been seen. Richard Blakeway asked if is possible to identify trigger points that lead to Borough
an increase in flow in order to alert the Delivery Board. Michelle Binfield said that sub-group
CLG can look at such issues, and also where boroughs experience a decrease in flow.
It was agreed that a 20 per cent change in the flow figures be used as a trigger. There
may be common factors that result in an increase in rough sleeping in a borough that
could inform prevention work; the Borough sub-group will look at this.
It was agreed that future CHAIN reports would include the change in number of Broadway
rough sleepers by borough.
The role of day centres was raised as a potential cause of flow - where they are not GLA
working towards an immediate exit route from the streets. Many day centre providers
are not fully commissioned by boroughs. Non-commissioned providers, including
soup runs can draw people into central London. The London Housing Foundation is
doing some work on day centres including the development of uniform standards to
which the Board should input – the GLA will investigate this.
Lesley Morphy raised the issue of advice given by boroughs to those approaching as
homeless. Crisis research raises issues of inconsistency and poor advice. This
contributes to the flow of rough sleeping in central London.
4 Borough sub-group update
Michael Scorer (LB Camden) reported on the two meetings the Borough sub-group Michael
has held and their progress. The boroughs have agreed areas of focus. All of the Scorer
borough strategies and plans will be examined to develop a model template of shared
good practice that allows boroughs to address local circumstances. The next meeting
of the sub-group will agree actions to bring to the next Board meeting
The sub-group would like the UK Borders Agency to attend a sub-group meeting. Michael
The UKBA is happy to do this. Scorer /
UKBA
The borough sub-group will bring proposals on defining success to the next Board Michael
meeting for discussion and input from other members. Scorer
It was suggested that the group might want to consider including Brent give CHAIN CLG
figures indicating a large rough sleeper population. CLG will meet with Brent to
examine the cause of this rise, and in the light of that their inclusion in the sub-group
will be considered.
5 Rough sleeping 205 update
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No Agenda item Action
.
A snapshot had been provided of the current position of the 205 entrenched rough
sleepers. There has been progress with an increase in the number accommodated. At
the outset of the process in early May some of the 205 were in short term
accommodation (shelter or hospital) and 148 were sleeping rough; this has declined to
108.
Boroughs will be invited to meet with the CLG and GLA on two dates in August to Boroughs
discuss their 205 cases to examine emerging issues, share learning and raise issues
where assistance is needed. The CLG has some additional funding for individual
budgets to support working with the 205; decisions on allocating this funding will be
based on the August meetings, so it is important boroughs have prepared.
CLG will bring a summary of information from the August meetings as part of the CLG
205 report to the next Board meeting.
Jim Barber (City of London) reported on the individual budgets pilot in the City of City of
London. They have monthly board meetings to monitoring and are engaging with a London
number of clients and are very close to finalising their first individual budget.
Proposals for use are very flexible and personalised, but linked to getting clients off
the streets. City will report back progress to the Board.
6 Westminster 150 presentation
Janet Haddington (Westminster CC) reported that Westminster had 102 of the 205
entrenched rough sleepers, however the borough operates a case management system
for 150 identified entrenched rough sleepers, which includes their 102 and other
complex cases. Westminster has developed a model to inform them of progress of
cases and the performance of commissioned providers. This provides consistent
recording and action across the borough and is audited quarterly.
Nik Ward (Westminster CC) presented an overview of Westminster’s response to
rough sleeping focussing on the Westminster 150. Their approach includes
identifying those at risk of becoming long term rough sleepers and targeting a
response. Westminster 150 clients have individual action plans that are implemented
consistently across services in the borough. This is managed through a spreadsheet
system.
Michelle Binfield recommended boroughs replicate the Westminster 150 spreadsheet Borough
in lieu of the action plan she was going to develop – Richard Blakeway supported this. sub-group
Westminster is willing to share the spreadsheet and provide some technical advice / WCC
and assistance. The Borough sub-group will look at this.
7 Criminal Justice and rough sleeping – action plan
The proportion of the flow of rough sleepers who have left prison has decreased in
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No Agenda item Action
.
recent years. The flow directly onto the streets is not as large as expected; many ex-
prisoners who subsequently sleep rough go into accommodation when they first leave
prison before moving onto the streets.
Homeless Link and NOMS have developed an action plan that focuses on information
sharing and proactive approaches by prison services, homeless providers, DWP and
other services, to minimise homelessness on release.
Homeless Link will identify lead agencies for each action and report to the September Homeless
Board meeting on progress against actions. Link
The need for early assessment of benefit entitlement before discharge from prison CLG /
should be raised with the DWP. GLA
Lesley Morphy (Crisis) highlighted the need for skills development in prison as a
crucial element for preventing homelessness.
Michael Scorer stressed the need to include the court system in the action plan. Homeless
Homeless Link will follow this up with him. Link /
Michael
Scorer
Actions for local authorities will be taken forward by the borough sub-group. Michael
Scorer
8 Policing and rough sleeping
Dave Musker (Metropolitan Police) has drafted an action plan for the police service
that he will bring to a meeting between Commander Bray and Richard Blakeway for
agreement.
He also reported on a cross border anti-begging initiative that the police will be
running, in co-operation with other agencies. The initiative will test partnership
working to target rough sleepers and other groups of the street population who use
begging to sustain drug use. The aim will be to bring people into drug treatment
programmes and reduce anti-social behaviour connected with begging and street
dwelling. Concern was raised that there might not be sufficient access to treatment
services – especially alcohol services. If this is the case it will be highlighted in the
assessment of the initiatives success.
An assessment of the initiative will be reported at the next Board meeting. Met Police
9 Central and Eastern European Nationals/foreign nationals
Hannah Gregory (UK Borders Agency) reported that all the local immigration teams UKBA
in London will be in place by September. This will enable closer working with local
partners and will allow their action plan to be borough specific. UKBA will circulate
leads for the local implementation teams.
UKBA will meet with the borough sub-group in order to prioritise resources and
targeting.
-6-
No Agenda item Action
.
They will also progress the testing of removing rough sleepers who are not
exercising treaty rights.
Michael Scorer (LB Camden) reported that some boroughs are hoping to test the new
European Economic Area regulations to get rough sleepers deported who are not
exercising their treaty rights.
Hannah Gregory proposed trialling their approach with one borough and bringing a UKBA
plan to the next meeting.
Simon Cribbens raised the issue of balancing the plan with taking immediate action UKBA/CL
against cases that the UKBA could take action against. Michelle Binfield will refresh G
the list of names that boroughs had provided of cases the UKBA might be able to take
action against. An update on progress on this should be reported to the next meeting.
It was suggested that the officer leading on case resolution should attend the next UKBA/CL
Board meeting given the risk this presents to increasing rough sleeping. G
10 Any other business and agenda for next meeting
Simon Cribbens asked members to refer any press enquiries specific to the London
Delivery Board to the GLA.
Jenny Edwards suggested that the Fire Service should be invited to a future meeting Homeless
to discuss ways they can help. She will pass on information about this to the GLA. Link
The research on soup runs will be discussed at the next meeting. GLA
The next meeting will be on Wednesday 23 September at 2pm in City Hall.
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