The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted.

DECISION

1.    To note the report.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, HEALTH, ADULTS AND COMMUNITIES (D. RADLEY)

(Head of Strategy and Policy – Health, Adults and Communities (J. Starkie)

Councillor Rachel Blake, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing introduced the report showing analysis on how the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the borough. She highlighted the impact reported on equalities, the disproportionate impact on BAME communities and the generally devastating impacts of the pandemic. She noted that the Council was likely to see increased pressure on services to support impacted residents.

She also noted positive impacts including that over 2000 people in the borough volunteered to help their communities and support people going through difficult times.

The Cabinet were provided with an overview of the presentation attached as an appendix to the report including looking at the comparators with the rest of the country and the very significant and differing impacts on different groups within the borough. The presentation also examined the impact on businesses, partners and services such as health and social care, schools and more.

Potentially positive impacts were also noted such as those on crime, air quality and the possibility of a green recovery.

The meeting then heard from two local residents who had suffered personal losses due to COVID-19 and in particular had concerns that care provided by local care homes was seriously deficient during the crisis. The Mayor thanked them for their contribution and confirmed that the issues raised would be explored further.

The Mayor also noted the support the Council had been providing to residents and business during the crisis. He noted that the analysis was a living document and would change as the pandemic progressed.

The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted and he agreed the recommendation as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the report.

The Committee received a report that provided an update on the Councils response to rough sleeping during the corona virus and the impact of Covid-19 Private Rented Sector.  The main points of the discussion may be summarised as follows:

The Committee noted that:

Responding to rough sleeping during the corona virus

·         Since mid-March – following a directive from government all rough sleepers and those at risk of rough sleeping had to be accommodated to facilitate social distancing/self-isolation, regardless of priority need, local connection, or recourse to public funds.

·         Over 200 individuals either rough sleeping on the streets or at imminent risk of rough sleeping where been found emergency accommodation by the Council. Most being from Tower Hamlets with over 40 have no recourse to public funds.

·         Rough sleeping in the Tower Hamlets had reduced dramatically during the lockdown. Entrenched rough sleepers being accommodated in commercial hotels. Ad hoc bookings in the portfolio of emergency Bed and Breakfast accommodation was increased to provide accommodation to those judged to be at risk of rough sleeping or who claim to be rough sleeping.

·         A large supply of hotel accommodation was also procured for rough sleepers by the GLA at the start of the pandemic. There are 350 rough sleepers in GLA hotels in Tower Hamlets. Individuals have been accommodated under Housing Act 1996 s.188(1) duty and Housing Act 1996 s.205(3) statutory powers, and Localism Act 2011.

Responding to rough sleeping during Covid-19 – Health and Welfare

·         The Council had commissioned 24/7 on-site support and floating support at the commercial hotels as most rough sleepers brought in directly off the streets have complex needs.

·         The value of these arrangements has been shown by the relatively low number of evictions and abandonments from the hotels and the low rough sleeping numbers during the 3 months of the lockdown. Public Health have led on implementing an operational plan to minimise the risk of an outbreak and spread of infection.

·         To date there have been no reported outbreaks in any of the hotels used by the Council or in the Council’s commissioned hostel sector. Given the high levels of substance misuse among the rough sleepers in commercial hotels a priority has been to assess individuals and help them access substance dependence treatment. .

·         The physical health of most rough sleepers in the commercial hotels had been assessed by a nurse. Most have been assessed as having a ‘mental health’ support need, and a number have been referred to mental health services.

·         Full board has been included in the block-booking contract with several hotels and a meal delivery of 3 meals per day has been provided to complex needs rough sleepers at other hotels. Within the wider range of emergency accommodation used by the Council, fridges and microwaves have been provided for people in their rooms to enable social distancing and support with self-isolation.

·         The majority of the Borough’s homeless are in accommodation and the Council are working with its partners to arrange safe housing options for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4