Agenda item

- Report by Caroline Highwood, Director of Resources, Kent Adult     Social Services)

(1)       Prior to the commencement of discussion on this item, details relating to two growth bids submitted by Dover District Council were circulated.  The first related to provision of temporary accommodation for young (16-24) homeless people and the second related to the provision of support to young people aged 16 and 17 who were at risk of homelessness and had been placed in safe emergency accommodation whilst an assessment of their circumstances was undertaken and efforts made to avoid them becoming homeless.

(2)       Claire Martin said that the Commissioning Body had agreed an ambitions programme of expenditure both in the current and next financial year.  The Programme would be able to meet the anticipated expenditure in those years with little variation to forecast and the five year forecast had been adjusted in order to take account of the growth bids.

(3)       During the course of discussion it was said that there needed to be greater clarity around how bids are not only presented but are assessed and against what priorities.  It was therefore agreed that a framework needed to be developed against which bids could be both assessed and prioritised and for that framework to be agreed by the Commissioning Body.  The Core Strategy Development Group was asked to develop this framework to submit that for discussion and approval at a future meeting of the Commissioning Body.  This was agreed. 

(4)  During the course of discussion on the growth bids a number of questions were raised particularly in relation to the two bids submitted on behalf of Thanet District Council.  The view was expressed that the Commissioning Body could not take a view on the bid in respect of the Extra Sheltered Housing Service as it needed further development before a final view could be reached.  This was agreed and   the Commissioning Body decided this bid should be deferred.  With regard to the growth bid in respect of the Single Homeless Scheme, some Members of the Commissioning Body said they fully appreciated there were serious issues in Thanet and Cliftonville in particular but considered more information was needed before this bid could be properly considered and evaluated. On that basis consideration of this bid should be deferred.  Mr Gibbens and Mr Mills spoke about the urgency of the situation in Thanet and said the point could be reached where action was needed before the next meeting of the Commissioning Body took place. On this basis Cllr Austin proposed and the Commissioning Body agreed that should that situation occur, then a Group comprising the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Commissioning Body, together with Cllr Keren Belcourt and Mr Bob Porter be authorised to act on behalf of the Commissioning Body.  In reaching this decision, the Commissioning Body asked the Chairman to write to Thanet District Council expressing disappointment that a representative of Thanet had been unable to attend the meeting in order answer questions in regard to both these bids.

(4)       The Commissioning Body then agreed as follows:-

(a)       that the Core Strategy Development Group be asked to develop a framework for the consideration of future growth bids and against which they can be assessed as to their relative priority. As part of the frame work each bid was to be given a score against which it could   be assessed against other bids.  The framework and timescale was to be submitted for approval to a future meeting of the Commissioning Body.

(b)       The Commissioning Body confirmed its decision in respect of each of the growth bids as follows:-

·                    Sevenoaks District Council – bids put forward in respect of young people as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report and Gypsies and Travellers as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report. Both agreed

·                    Thanet District Council – Extra Sheltered Housing Service – consideration of this bid be deferred until the next meeting as it needed to be match against the needs analysis data.

·                    Thanet District Council – Single Homeless – Bid be deferred until the next meeting,  But in consideration of the fact that a situation could be reached  where a decision on this bid was needed before the next meeting, a group comprising the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Commissioning Body together with Cllr Mrs Keren Belcourt and Mr Bob Porter be authorised to act on behalf of the Commissioning Body.

·                    Dover District Council – Extension of Existing Provision of Temporary Accommodation for Young (16-24) Homeless People – agreed.

·                    Dover District Council – Provision of Support to Young People Aged 16 and 17 who are at Risk of Homelessness – agreed.

(c)       County-wide Refuge (Domestic Violence) the Commissioning Body did not agree to this bid as it did not provide housing related support and therefore did not meet the criteria.  Also, it was possible the project could receive support from other funding schemes.