Agenda and decisions
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Contact: Richard Plummer Committees Manager Email: richard.plummer@haringey.gov.uk
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FILMING AT MEETINGS Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on. By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.
The Chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council. |
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Apologies for absence To receive any apologies for absence. |
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Declarations of interest A member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a prejudicial interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered:
(i) must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest becomes apparent, and (ii) may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must withdraw from the meeting room.
A member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which is not registered in the Register of Members’ Interests or the subject of a pending notification must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28 days of the disclosure.
Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and prejudicial interests are defined at Paragraphs 5-7 and Appendix A of the Members’ Code of Conduct |
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URGENT BUSINESS The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of Urgent Business. (Late items of Urgent Business will be considered under the agenda item where they appear). |
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DEPUTATIONS / PETITIONS / QUESTIONS To consider any requests received in accordance with Part 4, Section B, paragraph 29 of the Council’s Constitution.
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Re purpose Customer Services Space for Homelessness Prevention Hub Additional documents: Decision: DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST MADE FOR THIS ITEM:
None
RESOLVED:
That the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning (Deputy Leader):
1.
Approved the repurposing of the Customer Services space within
Tottenham Green Leisure Centre for use as a dedicated Homelessness
Prevention Hub, including the co?location of a voluntary sector
advice and advocacy service. 2.
Approved the formalising of the consolidation of the Customer
Services operation at the Wood Green Customer Services Centre,
following the earlier relocation of the service due to operational
pressures. 3. Approved the creation of a new back?office workspace within the adjacent area of Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, ensuring sufficient operational capacity to support the delivery of the Homelessness Prevention Hub.
Reasons for decision:
The council was obligated under the Homelessness Code of Guidance (S. 11.14–11.15) to provide at least one face?to?face interview for homelessness assessments in most circumstances. This served as supplementary guidance to the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, and the government required local housing authorities to have regard to this guidance when exercising functions related to homelessness.
An options analysis was undertaken to understand the potential locations that could best accommodate the Homelessness Prevention Hub, in collaboration with Capital Projects and Property. The Customer Services space at Marcus Garvey Library, with a back office in Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, was identified as the most viable, cost?effective and practical option.
The benefits of this option included the fact that demand for the Housing Needs service came primarily from the east of the borough, placing the Hub in close proximity to many of its users. Repurposing the space improved the experience of residents facing homelessness and allowed the service to comply with the Homelessness Code of Guidance requirement for face?to?face appointments. The parking capacity at Marcus Garvey Library and Tottenham Green Leisure Centre offered a significantly better experience for residents who were homeless on the day and might have belongings with them; being able to access the space by car assisted with this. The Housing Needs Service, Citizens Advice Haringey and other relevant teams jointly used the vacated space, creating a single, accessible point for residents to receive housing assessments and specialist advice. By bringing services together, this approach enhanced partnership working, strengthened early intervention and delivered a more coordinated and resident?focused service. The space was already set up for customer service use, meaning minimal capital works were required, limiting cost and disruption to service users.
Consolidating face?to?face Customer Service into the Wood Green Customer Services Centre ensured a more resilient model for staff and residents at a time when the council’s finances were under severe strain. It created economies of scale that enabled more consistent service levels during unplanned staff shortages and peaks in demand.
Historically, the Wood Green Customer Services site had attracted around 50% more footfall than the Marcus Garvey Library/Tottenham Green Customer Services site because it was centrally located, well connected by public transport and close to other council services and amenities.
Marcus Garvey ... view the full decision text for item 6. |