Issue - meetings

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To consider and approve a proposal to temporarily utilise the Council’s outdoor education facility at Gilwern – specifically the Blorenge block, to provide emergency homeless accommodation for single people, in order for the Council to meet the requirements of Welsh Government’s Covid 19 homeless guidance.

Author: Ian Bakewell, Housing & Communities Manager

Contact Details: ianbakewell@monmouthshire.gov.uk

To consider the current risks, pressures and challenges relating to accommodating homeless applicants.

To agree the temporary use until 21st August 2020 of the Blorenge block at Gilwern OEC for Covid related emergency homeless accommodation and to appoint security to help supervise the building and site.

To commission officers to prepare a further report that consider the medium and long-term-options and proposals for accommodating homeless applicants.

To work with Welsh Local Government Association and Welsh Government to ensure that Welsh Government funding is identified to meet the costs in housing additional homeless people going forward and beyond COVID-19.

That, due to urgency, the usual call-in criteria is suspended and this decision is reported to Full Council on 4^th June 2020.