Month: September 2018

Rough sleepers will receive further support after the government set out plans to fund 83 areas with the highest numbers of people at risk over the next 2 years.

Following on from the launch of its Rough Sleeping Strategy last month, the government has today (5 September 2018) announced provisional allocations of a £34 million fund to provide local support for those living on the streets.

Councils across England with the highest numbers of rough sleepers will receive a share of the funding to back on-going initiatives in their area, such as dedicated support teams and securing additional bed spaces.

It will be allocated for council spending over the next 2 years and is an extension of the £30 million that we provided to councils in June through our Rough Sleeping Initiative Fund.

Among the projects benefitting from the initial £30 million are:

• Sheffield – allocated £363,000 to expand ‘housing led’ services and increased emergency accommodation provision. The fund also provided a specialist support worker to assist a 64-year-old with mobility and addiction problems from sleeping rough to settle into permanent accommodation.
• Thanet – allocated £367,000 to fund a rough sleeping coordinator, mental health specialist outreach worker and substance misuse worker. The council now undertakes regular multi-agency case management meeting reviews of rough sleepers with complex needs and provides individual care plans.
• Bournemouth – allocated £387,000 to employ a dedicated rough sleeping coordinator, 4 specialised outreach workers focused on engagement with those on the streets, specialised psychological support to enable work with those who have experienced complex trauma and an initiative to help increase access to private rented sector for those seeking accommodation.

Communities Secretary, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said:

Our Rough Sleeping Strategy set out the blueprint to end rough sleeping by 2027. Now, we are vigorously taking the steps to make that happen.

The funding through our Rough Sleeping Initiative is already making a real difference in helping support those off the streets into services and accommodation this year.

But there is still work to do and that’s why we are supporting these areas with further funding to ensure progress continues to be made and vulnerable people are supported into services and accommodation.

The government’s expert Rough Sleeping Initiative Team has closely monitored the progress of the schemes developed from the first £30 million.

Alongside the £34 million allocated today, the government has set aside a further £11 million for spending on additional areas and projects to those supported by the Rough Sleeping Initiative and will announce further details in due course.

Further information

As outlined in our Rough Sleeping Strategy government will provide £45 million into the Rough Sleeping Initiative Fund.

The provisional £34 million allocated towards the 83 authorities today will be for spending in the 2019 to 2020 year. Finalised allocations will be dependent on progress in delivering programmes and services. These will be announced in due course.

Provisional allocations
(PDF, 35.3KB, 4 pages)

If an authority has not fully spent their 2018 to 2019 allocation, we will subtract the unspent amount from the 2019 to 2020 allocation.

In addition to funding from the Rough Sleeping Initiative in 2019 to 2020, elements of local authorities’ original proposals, including those from London authorities, may be taken forward as part of the work resulting from the Rough Sleeping Strategy.

The move, announced today (5 September 2018) as part of the Tenant Fees Bill, is a further measure to bring an end to costly fees imposed by a landlord or agent.

Under the new default fee provision, a landlord or agent will only be able to recover reasonable incurred costs, and must provide evidence of these costs to the tenant before they can impose any charges.

This will put a stop, for example, to tenants being charged hundreds of pounds for a damaged item that actually only costs a few pounds to replace – such as £60 to replace smoke alarms which the local council would have replaced for free.

Other amendments to the Bill brought forward by the government include taking steps to ensure tenants get their money back quickly by reducing the timeframe that landlords and agents must pay back any fees that they have unlawfully charged.

The Bill is expected to save tenants around £240 million a year, with the Bill also giving them assurance that the deposit they pay at the start of the tenancy cannot exceed 6 weeks’ rent.

Minister Rishi Sunak MP said:

Tenants across the country, whatever their income, should not be hit with unfair costs by agents or landlords.

This government is determined to make sure our housing market works and this new provision in the Tenant Fees Bill will make renting fairer and more transparent for all.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, has announced that the deadline for responses to the consultation on addressing the legacy of the Troubles will be extended by three weeks to Friday 5 October.

The move comes after stakeholders said they needed more time to respond.

The Secretary of State said:

“The legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland is an enormously sensitive and emotive issue, and I want to make sure everyone’s voice is heard as we move forward. I have listened to those who want to take a little bit more time to consider their responses – particularly those individuals who have been most affected by the Troubles, including victims and survivors and former police officers and veterans – and I am happy to extend the deadline so that they can have their say.”

The UK Government launched the consultation, Addressing the Legacy of Northern Ireland’s Past, on 11 May to find the best way to meet the needs of victims and survivors and to help people address the impact of the Troubles. in the areas of information, justice and acknowledgement and help Northern Ireland transition to long term-term peace and stability.

The original deadline for responses was 10 September, extended today to 5 October. Anyone who wishes to give their views can find more information here.

A young man who brutally attacked his ex-girlfriend’s partner in Brighton has had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, referred the case to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient.

Asa Smallwood, now 24 years old, had a chance encounter with his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend in Brighton. Smallwood punched his ex-girlfriend’s new partner to the floor in an unprovoked attack. Smallwood repeatedly kicked the victim in the head with what witnesses have described as deliberate ‘rugby style kicks’.

The victim suffered a number of lacerations to the face, one of which required 18 stitches, as well as nerve damage causing numbness to the left side of his face for three months after the attack and permanent facial scarring.

Smallwood was originally charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment suspended for 2 years at Lewes Crown Court in June. He was also required to undertake a 180 hour unpaid work requirement, 20 days rehabilitation and pay £1000 compensation.

After today’s hearing, the Court of Appeal has increased his sentence to 4 years immediate imprisonment.

Commenting on the increase, Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP said:

“I welcome the decision of the Court of Appeal to increase this sentence. Smallwood’s vicious and unprovoked attack left the victim with serious injuries and permanent scars, so it is only right his sentence truly reflects the severity of his crime.”