URL: https://democracy.adur-worthing.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1323

Decision Maker: Joint Strategic Committee

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose:

Content: Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Housing and Communities, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as item 7.   This report before members set out the proposed new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, 2025-2030, which is due for renewal and is central to the Councils’ ambitions set out in the Corporate Plan - Fair, Green and Local. Having a home was a fundamental need and right for local residents. The strategy provided an important strategic and statutory framework, which set out the strategic aspiration of the councils’- working with partner organisations - to prevent and manage homelessness, and when it occurs, and - as set out in the strategy - for it to be brief and non-recurring.   The strategy was required to meet the Councils’ legal duties in relation to homelessness. It served as a key delivery framework as part of the recently adopted Adur and Worthing Housing Strategy 2025-2030, aligning fully with its overarching principles and supporting Priority 4: "Preventing homelessness and rough sleeping”   This was a key document for the Councils, especially given the immense funding pressures relating to homelessness, which are especially acute for Worthing Council. These demand pressures could not be solely managed by our teams. This work needed a systems approach focusing on prevention and early intervention.   The strategic approach had been prepared during a time of immense change including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Governments (MHCLG) new strategy, ‘A National Plan to End Homelessness’ (Appendix 1), new national legislative changes, including the Renters Rights Act, the Supported Housing Regulatory Oversight Act and Local Government Reorganisation. The development of the Delivery Plan would be co-produced and supported through the Adur and Worthing Homelessness Prevention Partnership.     Decision:   1)    That the new strategy for Adur and Worthing Councils 2025 - 2030 be noted and approved as set out in Appendix 2.   2)    That it be noted that the initial priorities set out within this strategic document will be used to form a Delivery Plan. This will be co-produced with the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Prevention Partnership covering the first 18 months of this strategy.   3)    That the Committee receive a report on the delivery of the strategy to this committee on an annual basis.   4)    That it be noted that the strategy had been produced during a time of immense change including the new National Plan to End Homelessness (just published), new national legislative changes, including the Renters Rights Act and the Supported Housing Regulatory Oversight Act and Local Government Reorganisation.   5)    That authority be delegated to the Director for Communities and Housing, in consultation with each Councils’ cabinet portfolio leads for Housing and Citizen’s Services, to make amendments to the strategies Delivery Plan, in response to the development of these wider strategic changes and service demands and as priorities are co-produced with the Adur and Worthing Homelessness Prevention Partnership.   Call In: The call-in deadline for decisions will be 5.00pm on 16 January 2026.

Date of Decision: January 6, 2026