COUNCIL chiefs have backed plans to tackle rough sleeping in Cheshire West and Chester, as it was revealed there are 123 households still being housed in hotels across the borough.

The council commissioned a comprehensive review of the issue between July and December last year which found that in  2019, there were 14 people sleeping rough and around 40 households in hotels.

But the pandemic and Government’s ‘everyone in’ policy to bring people off the streets during lockdowns reversed the figures, and in 2020 there were four people recorded as sleeping rough. However, households in hotels rose as high as 200. To date, the council still has 123 households in hotels.

The authority’s ruling cabinet recently agreed to note the contents of the review and delegate authority to the director of economy and housing to deliver the implementation plan.

The plan will be rolled out over three years with the aim of ending rough sleeping in the borough. It includes a number of measures, such as:

  • Working with partner agencies on a strategy to reduce begging
  • Developing an alternative giving campaign
  • Undertaking a detailed review of the current supported accommodation provision
  • Ensuring there is a mix of both generic and specialist supported housing provision, including women only and young person’s housing
  • Developing an assessment centre with ‘off the street’ supported accommodation
  • Developing services for people with mental health issues, dual diagnosis, substance misuse, including detox/rehab services.

Cabinet member Cllr Richard Beacham said that in the past there had been competing views between police, church groups and charities about how to handle the issue and that the council had played a 'key role' in bringing them together.

He told the meeting: "Every single person that comes through the system has a different story to tell they’ve had different life experiences that have led them to where they are, some are straightforward relationship breakdowns, others relate to a long lifetime of abuse that have led to additions and really difficult and challenging mental health positions."

Cllr Lynn Gibbon, deputy leader of the Conservative group, said a major issue was the lack of single bedroom properties. She said the council should 'think outside the box' to reduce its £2m spent last year on bed and breakfast.

Addressing her concerns directly, councillor Matt Bryan, cabinet member for housing, planning & climate emergency, said the main issue was lack of suitable accommodation in Chester.

He added that the council had opened the Mulberry Centre as a homeless shelter during the pandemic, and that there were plans for another 55 accommodation units which would go through public consultation, and further 50 on a site the council owns.