Agenda item

Report of the Director of Adults and Housing.

The Board considered a briefing note and presentation from the Director of Law and Governance and the Director of City Services that introduced the proposed changes to the Councils Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) process.

Local authorities were required to implement SWEP in line with national guidance at times of severe weather.

In Coventry SWEP was triggered when

1)  Temperatures are at a ‘feels like’ 0c’ or

2)  A yellow weather warning

SWEP was used by lots of people unknown to the rough sleeping service, people who haven’t been found rough sleeping either before or after SWEP. Therefore, there were to be changes as to how SWEP was to operate in 2025/26.

Officers in particular noted that 30% of those referred to SWEP did not turn up to their arranged accommodation, furthermore, most rough sleepers took up the offer of shelter but not the support. Coventry was an outlier compared to local and national averages, so efforts had been made to amend this.

The council is therefore to move to a tiered approach. Tier one applied when weather was below zero, support would be offered to pre identified lists of clients who were particularly vulnerable the cold. Tier two would apply when the weather was zero or below for three consecutive nights or when the met office issued an amber alert. In this case the eligibility is widened, and referrals are invited in for a SWEP assessment, outside of this, clients can call EDT and are offered a place to sleep providing they present to services the next day.

In considering the briefing note, the Board questioned officers, received responses, and discussed matters as summarised below:

·  That the change to two tiers does not mean people would not be able to access rough sleeping accommodation if they asked for/needed it.

·  That the Councils Outreach Team performed daily and extensive trips to assess and log rough sleeping, this combined with data going back six years gave the council an extensive and comprehensive breakdown of rough sleepers in Coventry.

·  That the council used its extensive knowledge of rough sleepers in Coventry to invite those at-risk using SWEP.

·  That the 30% of rough sleepers not attending their booked accommodation cost the Council a significant amount and the tier system was designed to rectify that.

·  That it would not be harder for rough sleepers to find accommodation with the council but there were now some requirements for engagement and recording of these rough sleepers.

·  As many participants failed to give any additional information officers suspected previously some users of SWEP had alternate accommodation options but preferred to use SWEP.

·  That the changes to SWEP were not aimed at cost cutting and instead about prioritising service onto those that will use it and need it most.

·  That hotels and Bed and breakfasts were rarely used as accommodation but when they were, if the rough sleeper did not attend after booking the Council would still have to foot the bill.

·  That there were a suspected 72 rough sleepers across the city and currently 14 staff in Outreach Team who did regular tours to assess them.

Members requested that the following information be circulated to them:

·  Outlining the numbers and take up of the previous year’s SWEP.

·  Officers are to facilitate members of the Board joining SWEP officers with the Outreach Team.

The Education and Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board (2) Resolved to note the contents of the briefing note and had no further recommendations for the Cabinet Member.