Agenda of Shire Services Committee - 1 00 2020 · 6/1/2020 · The updated Homelessness Policy...

Business Paper

Shire Services Committee

Monday, 1 June 2020

6:30pm

Council Chambers,

Level 2, Administration Building,

4-20 Eton Street, Sutherland

Shire Services Committee 1 June 2020

ORDER OF BUSINESS

1. OPENING OF MEETING AND WEBCAST STATEMENT

2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

3. APOLOGIES

4. DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST

5. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS

6. PRESENTATIONS

7. REPORTS FROM OFFICERS

SER004-20 Review of Homelessness Policy (pg 3)

SER005-20 Community Centre Funding Agreement Renewals (pg 20)

8. QUESTIONS

9. CONSIDERATION OF BUSINESS IN CLOSED SESSION

10. CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS FROM OFFICERS


SE

R004

-20

SER004-20 REVIEW OF HOMELESSNESS POLICY

Attachments: Appendix A⇩ and Appendix B⇩

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Council’s current Homelessness Policy aims to improve access to facilities, services and safety

for those who are homeless.

As part of our recently coordinated Homelessness Forum and Collaborative Outreach Group, it

was identified that this policy is out of date and contains information and references that are no

longer relevant or valid.

The revised policy will be supported by new operational guidelines as well as other existing

policies including Housing NSW’s Protocol for Homeless People in Public Place.

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

THAT:

The updated Homelessness Policy (2020) be adopted by Council.


SE

R004

-20

PURPOSE

This report seeks Council’s approval of the reviewed Homelessness Policy.

BACKGROUND

Homelessness is most commonly defined as Primary Homelessness, Secondary Homelessness and

Tertiary Homelessness. For the purpose of this report the Primary Homelessness definition is most

relevant, whereby those who are ‘sleeping rough’, without a roof over their head,

often in public places or in improvised dwellings.

Rough sleeping within the Royal National Park is audited annually by the Rural Fire Service and NSW

Police. The 2019 aerial audit identified 27 camps within the national park. The number of confirmed

occupied camps is estimated to be 8.

The Homelessness Policy (Appendix A) was first adopted in 2003 and consists of a range of

approaches to address conflicts over public space.

As a result of the recent homelessness forum it was identified that the current Homelessness Policy

contained information that was out of date and/or not relevant.

DISCUSSION

The Business, Sport and Community Services unit reviewed the Homelessness Policy in conjunction

with the Public Safety and Lifeguards Unit, Environmental Heath Unit, The Sutherland Shire and St

George Homeless Assertive-outreach Collaborative along with local community organisations.

The reviewed Homelessness Policy (Appendix B) has been reviewed to modernise and simplify it in

line with best practice.

The revised Policy is substantially more concise and easier to understand. To aid clarity and

understanding, operational instructions and supporting reference information have been removed from

the Policy and incorporated into a Guideline document.

Fundamentally, the principles outlined in the revised Homelessness Policy remain the same as those

in the current Homelessness Policy. Once adopted, the revised Policy and the associated guidelines

will be introduced to staff as part of a targeted education and awareness campaign.

RESOURCING STRATEGY IMPLICATIONS

The policy and its actions are implemented by staff within the Business, Sport and Community

Services Unit, Public Safety and Lifeguards Unit and Waste Services Unit within existing resources

and budgets.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The Business, Sport and Community Services unit has reviewed the Homelessness Policy and

developed operational guidelines in consultation with the Public Safety and Lifeguards Unit, The

Sutherland Shire and St George Homeless Assertive-outreach Collaborative along with local NSW

Police and community organisations who provide support and services to homeless people.


SE

R004

-20

STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT

The Homelessness Policy and its outcomes align with strategies in Council’s adopted Community

Strategic Plan and Delivery Plans as follows:

Community Strategic Plan Strategy Delivery Program (2017-2021) Deliverables

3.1 The community has access to services,

programs and facilities to support and enhance

health and wellbeing

3.2 Support and enable all in the community

3.3 Opportunities will be fostered that help build

a sense of community

6.2 Facilitate a diverse housing mix that

provides choice and meets the needs of all

community members.

3A Develop and implement plans to facilitate

healthy, connected, caring, inclusive, resilient

and liveable communities

POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS

The Homelessness Policy is governed by the following legislation, regulations and guidelines:

Local Government Act 1993 (NSW).

State Records Act 1998 (NSW).

Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW).

Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW).

Housing NSW’s Protocol for homeless people in public places

CONCLUSION

The provisions contained within the reviewed Homelessness Policy have been updated and are now

more concise and easier to understand. The new Policy will be supported by operational guidelines to

assist Council staff in supporting the delivery of services to homeless people. The reviewed

Homelessness Policy aims to improve access to facilities, services and safety for those who are

homeless.

The revised Homelessness Policy is principles-based to clearly articulate Council’s policy position in

relation to those who are homeless and aims to improve their access to facilities, services and safety.

The broad principles of the revised Homelessness Policy remain the same as are in the current

Homelessness Policy.

RESPONSIBLE OFFICER

The officer responsible for the preparation of this Report is the Manager Business, Sport and

Community Services, Rebecca Wood, who can be contacted on 9710 0030.

File Number: 2015/42996


SE

R004

-20 A

pp

en

dix

A


SE

R004

-20 A

pp

en

dix

B


SE

R005

-20

SER005-20 COMMUNITY CENTRE FUNDING AGREEMENT RENEWALS

Attachments: Nil

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In the 1970’s three community organisations were provided an annual Community Centre

Subsidy to manage and provide services from four Women’s Rest Centres located in Gymea,

Engadine, Sutherland and Caringbah.

Over the years the services have evolved and the funds provided by Council increased and are

used to employ professional coordinators, to manage the increased demand for services.

The Community Centre funding agreement was last reviewed in 2018 to ensure funding

outcomes aligned with Councils Community Strategic Plan and that detail acquittals were

received demonstrating key outcomes of the funding.

A current annual subsidy of $61,224 is currently paid to Engadine Community Services and

$64,601 annually to Gymea Community Aid and Information Service, Orana Sutherland and

Orana Women’s Health.

Acquittals received from all four community centres demonstrate funding and initiatives are

favourably impacting the Sutherland Shire community and their needs.

The current two year funding agreement expires on 30 June 2020.

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

THAT:

Council endorse the renewal of the Community Rest Centre Subsidy Agreement for a further two

years, from July 2020 – June 2022.


SE

R005

-20

PURPOSE

This report seeks Council’s approval to renew the Community Rest Centre subsidy for another two

years, from July 2020 – June 2022

BACKGROUND

There are currently four community organisations operating from Council owned buildings. They were

initially established as Women’s Rest Centres in the 1960’s where Council employed attendants who

staffed and cleaned the toilet facilities.

In the 1970’s Council began providing a small subsidy to enable these centres to be managed by

volunteer groups, who provided a range of community support services. In return, the toilet facilities

had to be available to the public between the hours of 9:30am – 5:00pm (Monday to Friday). The

subsidies provided by Council have always been intended as services subsidies to assist the

organisations to provide services.

The subsidy has gradually increased over the years in response to the increased demand for services

and in recognition of the need for qualified workers with the skills and knowledge to provide the

professional services required. The annual subsidy currently ranges from $61,224 to $64,601 and is

provided to fund the engagement of a Centre Coordinator or Community Development Worker.

Today these four community organisations are represented by Gymea Community Aid and Information

Service, Engadine Community Services, Orana Sutherland and Orana Women’s Health.

DISCUSSION

The Community Centre funding agreement was last reviewed in 2018 ensuring funding outcomes

aligned with Councils Community Strategic Plan and that detail acquittals were received

demonstrating key outcomes of the funding.

The subsidy is currently provided on the condition that the centres enter into a two year Funding

Agreement with Council.

The Agreement

The agreement provides guidance on the purpose of the funds including:

(a) That the subsidy can be used to fund the engagement of a Centre Coordinator or Community

Development Worker/s, who will assist in providing the following services (or similar) to the

community:

Counselling

Social support services

Information and referral


SE

R005

-20

(b) The Services must be aligned with the objectives identified in the current Sutherland Shire

Community Strategic Plan, Ageing Well in Sutherland Shire Strategy, Youth Strategy, Crime

Prevention Plan and Disability Inclusion Action Plan, which are available on Council's website

(c) Services are provided from Monday to Friday between 9.30 am —5.00 pm (core hours).

(d) A community lease or hire agreement will be entered into for the Premises during the first 12

months of the Term.

(e) An Annual Acquittal will be provided demonstrating how the previous year subsidy paid by

Council was expended.

The funding agreement review in 2018 also added the need for the community organisation to provide

a detailed acquittal demonstrating how the funding was used and outcomes achieved including:

Describing the services conducted by the Centre / Community Development worker/s;

Providing demographic information and statistics about service users;

Providing the types / categories of presenting problems experienced by service users;

Describing how the services conducted by the Centre Coordinator / Community Development

worker/s have met the needs of the local community. Including statistics / evidence to support

this response;

Requesting information about how the centre identified the community needs with evidence;

Explaining how the services conducted by the Centre Coordinator / Community Development

Worker/s benefit the local community, with statistics / evidence to support; and

As well as providing information about the use of the public toilet facilities located at the centre.

Council’s Community Strategic Plan identifies a number of trends impacting the Shire such as an

ageing population, housing affordability and increasing cultural diversity. Each centre has a role to

play regarding these trends and are integral to Council achieving its strategic objectives.

The Outcomes

The acquittals received by each centre provided detailed information regarding services and programs

provided, the number of participants, customers assisted and evidence of the service need.

A summary of those outcomes is provided below:

Provision of Commonwealth Home Support Program: this included social inclusion activities,

transport assistance, multicultural connections, health related activities, support to the aged

care system and a men's groups.

Provision of multicultural and settlement services which included case work, community

development and youth settlement services. More specifically it included homework support,

tutoring for refugee children, driving program, water safety education, visa assistance and

community gardening.


SE

R005

-20

Provision of social isolation programs and education support such as befriending program,

wrapped with love knitting group, 50+ club, walking groups and computer classes for seniors.

Participation in initiatives that support vulnerable communities; such as the Elder Abuse

Collaborative, domestic violence support groups and the Sutherland Shire Toy Library.

The continuity of the subsidy for another two years will provide these organisations with much needed

funding to engage the necessary staff for service delivery to continue to provide further programs and

initiatives.

RESOURCING STRATEGY IMPLICATIONS

The renewal of the subsidy is implemented by staff within the Business, Sport and Community

Services Unit within existing resources and budgets. Allocation for continued Community Centre

funding has been included in the draft 2020/21 budget.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The Business, Sport and Community Services unit has discussed renewal of the subsidy and funding

agreement with the relevant community organisations. The renewal of the funding will enable them to

continue providing support and services to vulnerable members of the community.

STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT

The subsidy and associated funding agreement align with strategies in Council’s adopted Community

Strategic Plan and Delivery Plans as follows:

Community Strategic Plan Strategy Delivery Program (2017-2021) Deliverables

3.1 The community has access to services,

programs and facilities to support and enhance

health and wellbeing

3.2 Support and enable all in the community

3.3 Opportunities will be fostered that help build

a sense of community

3A Develop and implement plans to facilitate

healthy, connected, caring, inclusive, resilient

and liveable communities

POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS

The Community Rest Centre subsidy is governed by the following legislation, regulations and

guidelines:

Local Government Act 1993 (NSW).

State Records Act 1998 (NSW).

Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW).

Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW).


SE

R005

-20

CONCLUSION

In the 1970’s three community organisations were provided an annual Community Centre Subsidy to

manage and provide services from four Women’s Rest Centres located in Gymea, Engadine,

Sutherland and Caringbah.

Over the years the services have evolved and the funds provided by Council increased and are used

to employ professional coordinators, to manage the increased demand for services.

A current annual subsidy of $61,224 is currently paid to Engadine Community Services and $64,601

annually to Gymea Community Aid and Information Service, Orana Sutherland and Orana Women’s

Health.

In 2018 a new two year funding agreement was developed, aligning funding outcomes to Councils

Community Strategic Plan and detailed acquittals requested to demonstrate outcomes achieved.

Acquittals received from all four community centres demonstrate funding and initiatives are favourably

impacting the Sutherland Shire community and their needs.

It is recommended the funding agreement be renewed for a further two years to June 2022.

RESPONSIBLE OFFICER

The officer responsible for the preparation of this Report is the Manager Business, Sport and

Community Services, Rebecca Wood, who can be contacted on 9710 0030.

File Number: 2018/312703

Agenda of Shire Services Committee - 1 00 2020 · 6/1/2020 · The updated Homelessness Policy...

Documents

Transcript of Agenda of Shire Services Committee - 1 00 2020 · 6/1/2020 · The updated Homelessness Policy...