The Head of Housing submitted a report to the City Executive Board on 10 April 2019 to seek Project Approval for the development of a new homeless shelter and assessment hub at Floyds Row to further develop services focusing on the prevention and relief of rough sleeping, including winter shelter provision; to request further capital funding from Council; and to delegate authority to enter into construction contracts accordingly.

The Minutes of this meeting are available at Item 11 of this agenda.

Councillor Linda Smith, the Board Member for Leisure and Housing, will present the report.

Recommendations: the City Executive Board recommends to Council:

that, subject to the outcome of the forthcoming architectural feasibility work being affordable and within the proposed budget envelope, that a  revised capital scheme now totalling £458k (an additional £274k up from an original £184k) relating to Option C is included in the Council’s 2019/20 capital programme (the funding of which is achievable albeit potentially from a variety of sources the ranking of which is still as yet to be finalised);

Councillors Djafari-Marbini, and McManners arrived during the debate.

Council considered a report of the Head of Housing submitted to the City Executive Board on 10 April 2019 to seek Project Approval for the development of a new homeless shelter and assessment hub at Floyds Row to further develop services focusing on the prevention and relief of rough sleeping, including winter shelter provision; to request further capital funding from Council; and to delegate authority to enter into construction contracts accordingly.

Councillor Linda Smith, the Board Member for Leisure and Housing presented the report and moved the recommendations, which were adopted on being seconded and put to the vote.

Council resolved:

that, subject to the outcome of the forthcoming architectural feasibility work being affordable and within the proposed budget envelope, that a revised capital scheme now totalling £458k (an additional £274k up from an original £184k) relating to Option C as set out in the officer’s report is included in the Council’s 2019/20 capital programme (the funding of which is achievable albeit potentially from a variety of sources the ranking of which is still as yet to be finalised).

The Head of Housing has submitted a report to seek Project Approval for the development of a new homeless shelter and assessment hub at Floyds Row to further develop services focusing on the prevention and relief of rough sleeping, including winter shelter provision. To request further capital funding from Council; and to delegate authority to enter into construction contracts accordingly.

Recommendations:That the City Executive Board resolves to:

1.    Give Project Approval to the proposal to convert this building to deliver the initiatives as set out in this report, and within the allocated capital budget for this purpose;

2.    Request  Council that, subject to the outcome of the forthcoming architectural feasibility work being affordable and within the proposed budget envelope, that a  revised capital scheme now totalling £458k ( an additional £274k up from an original £184k ) relating to Option C is included in the Council’s 2019/20 capital programme (the funding of which is achievable albeit potentially from a variety of sources the ranking of which is still as yet to be finalised);

3.    Delegate authority to the Regeneration and Major Projects Service Manager, in consultation with the Head of Finance, to enter into contracts for the conversion of this building to this purpose, on the basis that in the opinion of the Head of Finance this continues to represent best value; and

4.    Note that the timely delivery of a new winter shelter service for the 2019/20 winter period is a priority in this project.

The Head of Housing had submitted a report to seek Project Approval for the development of a new homeless shelter and assessment hub at Floyds Row to further develop services focusing on the prevention and relief of rough sleeping, including winter shelter provision. To request further capital funding from Council; and to delegate authority to enter into construction contracts accordingly.

The Board Member for Leisure and Housing (Councillor Linda Smith), introduced the report, drawing particular attention to the report’s request that the Council increase the capital immediately available for the project so that good progress can be made and the new provision be available next winter.

The Senior Commissioning Officer, Polly McKinlay,  said a bid for government funding had been made and great efforts were being made to ensure that the views of service users were properly taken into account, not least by the architects who were working up proposals for the reconfiguration of the building. Among other things the new provision was taking account of last year’s ‘no local connection’ review and the night shelter would be blind to users’ local connection. The report’s recommendation was for funding for option C in the report, which would provide a three phase approach to provision, seeking to cater for a wide range of need.

The Housing Strategy and Needs Manager, Dave Scholes,  emphasised that this was a significant project being delivered against a very tight timetable. It was anticipated that work on site would start in May. 

That the City Executive Board resolved to:

1.    Give Project Approval to the proposal to convert this building to deliver the initiatives as set out in this report, and within the allocated capital budget for this purpose;

2.    Request  Council that, subject to the outcome of the forthcoming architectural feasibility work being affordable and within the proposed budget envelope, that a  revised capital scheme now totalling £458k ( an additional £274k up from an original £184k ) relating to Option C is included in the Council’s 2019/20 capital programme (the funding of which is achievable albeit potentially from a variety of sources the ranking of which is still as yet to be finalised);

3.    Delegate authority to the Regeneration and Major Projects Service Manager, in consultation with the Head of Finance, to enter into contracts for the conversion of this building to this purpose, on the basis that in the opinion of the Head of Finance this continues to represent best value; and

4.    Note that the timely delivery of a new winter shelter service for the 2019/20 winter period is a priority in this project.