The Cabinet Member for Housing
Services presented a report regarding the re-procurement of the
Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 (CAS3), a service supporting
individuals leaving prison custody, providing supported
accommodation and independent living skills, helping to break
cycles of homelessness and reoffending.
In response to Members’
questions it was noted that the Council worked with Prevention to
carry out a full risk assessment for individuals coming out of
prison to identify the best placements and ensure they had the
safest place based on their individual circumstances. Members were
advised that homeless properties wouldn’t normally be
advertised owing to safeguarding concerns, but any properties
requiring a planning class change would have the appropriate
planning records and permissions. It was noted that a proportional
breakdown of contributing factors in the rise in homelessness would
be provided to Members outside the meeting.
Decision:
Cabinet:
- Authorised Bury
Council to initiate a tender exercise via The Chest to identify a
provider to deliver the Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 , in
line with the requirements set out in the grant agreement with the
Greater Manchester Combined Authority, with an initial term of 14
months of total estimated contract value (for the initial term) of
£430,596, and option to extend for a further 6 months;
and
- Authorised the
Director of Housing to approve the award of the new contract
without the need for further approval from Cabinet.
Reasons for the decision:
There has been a significant
increase in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness.
This cohort includes individuals leaving prison custody, who often
face additional barriers to securing and maintaining stable
accommodation. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
Government (“MHCLG”) has recently set out outcome
measures for local authorities as part of its updated strategy,
including an ambitious objective to ensure that no individual
leaves an institution into homelessness.
Alternative options considered and rejected:
- These properties will
deliver emergency accommodation preventing individuals leaving
custody homeless and rough sleeping. If this option is not pursued,
the council will be unlikely to achieve a reduction in rough
sleeping, which conflicts with our local, regional, and national
homelessness strategies. We would also fail in delivering this
joint commissioned programme. This would present a risk of
reputational damage and a failure to meet our corporate
responsibilities.
- CAS3 is joint
commissioned programme between the GMCA and MoJ and has been
delivered by the local authorities since 2022. The programme
continues to build on its success year on year and remains a key
resource in preventing, breaking cycles of homelessness and
reducing re-offending. Due to current capacity constraints within
the service, the ongoing challenges in securing suitable
accommodation to support delivery, and its status as an externally
grant-funded programme with a fixed cost envelope CAS3 is most
effectively delivered by an external provider.