First of all, I must say I was treated with the utmost courtesy. I started off in the Mayor’s Gallery. The Mayor, realising that I could hardly hear invited me to sit out in front. Later, a member of staff asked me if he could get me anything.

In December, fourteen reports were presented for discussion and decision by the Council Cabinet – the Mayor’s leadership team – that works between meetings of the council and prepares reports and decisions for the council members to consider and decide upon.

Two reports stand out: the Household Support Fund and the Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Strategy. These are the top priorities as they deal directly with the most vulnerable.

The Household Support Fund Report: Two of the main channels of funding are for Holiday Vouchers for Children receiving Free School Meals; and for Families and Care Givers not in Receipt of Public Funds.

The main eligible spends are for provision of food, and ensuring availability of heating and water in households facing hardship. The fund is administered across Council Departments.

The Homelessness Strategy Report:

This was by far the longest report presented. The Action Plan for year 2022-2023 dealing with Prevention of Homelessness proposed the fol- lowing actions:

• More collaboration with private landlords.

• More collaboration with the police over cases of illegal evictions and harassment.

• Purchase of Lady Helen Seymour House as a centre of excellence for homelessness assessment

Less use of Temporary Bed and Breakfast Accommodation: In this area the actions proposed are for the Council to lease more properties and to bring more empty properties into use.

Priority: Health, Family… and Life issues that could lead to Homelessness. Actions proposed are to work to multidisciplinary pathways… withspecialist support officers and also:

• To help women suffering from do- mestic violence

• To support vulnerable young people

• To liaise with the probation service if necessary
• To ease bottlenecks on discharge from hospital.

Priority: Transition Support for people going from Rough Sleeping. In this area the Council claims some success with 90 percent of rough sleepers now registered with GPs; 204 rough sleepers have received help on immigration and 92 have obtained settled status.; and finally there is no longer a congregation of rough sleep- ers in the Stratford Centre.

According to the Interim Financial Management Report the Council has saved money by reductions in use of Agency Staff, the removal of SeniorManagement Posts and departmen- tal efficiency drives, but on the debit side as a result of Covid the Borough’s reserves are down to £4million.

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