Councillor George Davies introduced a report, of the Strategic Director – Regeneration and Environment that sought the Cabinet’s approval to commission, on a pilot basis, an emergency accommodation service for homeless 16 and 17-year-olds, where there was an assessed need and this was the most appropriate accommodation.

The Cabinet was informed that the Children and Young People’s Department when presented with a 16/17 year old that was homeless and unable to safely remain with family and friends had a statutory duty to secure appropriate accommodation for the young person.  Currently, when emergency accommodation was required, a bed-space would be procured on an individual spot-purchase basis.

The proposed emergency accommodation service would be funded through a combination of Supporting People Programme Grant and Housing Benefit.  The 100% subsidy by Central Government attracted by Housing Benefit, would represent a saving against the current spot-purchase method of obtaining this type of accommodation for young people. 

The report had an Appendix containing specific financial information relating to this proposal.  Due to the commercial sensitivity of this information, and the potential for its disclosure to disadvantage the Council in any future tendering exercise, it was considered that the Appendix should be considered exempt by virtue of paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.  It would be considered in Part 2 of the meeting once the press and public had been excluded.  (Minute No. 106 refers)

RESOLVED:

That the commission of emergency accommodation for 16 and 17 year olds on a two-year pilot basis as set out in the report in accordance with paragraph 21.1.1(v) of the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules the requirements of which are met (E120 new contract procedural rules), be approved.