Exeter Citizen | Tackling homelessness

Tackling homelessness

People can have their say on a raft of initiatives to tackle homelessness in Exeter and Teignbridge.

Exeter City Council and Teignbridge District Council have drawn up a draft Homelessness Strategy to address the issue. Members of the public have a chance to comment on the strategy, with the consultation ending on 28 March.

The City Council is committed to bring rough sleeping to an end and is determined to help those without a roof over their heads to turn their lives around.

Much of the focus of the strategy is the importance of working together with wider statutory and voluntary organisations to address homelessness.

Among the initiatives within the strategy are the following:

• Launch a referral service for private landlords to help save private rented tenancies when things start to go wrong
• Develop alternatives to Bed & Breakfast accommodation in an emergency for families and young people.
• Consider the design of accommodation options for rough sleepers to provide alternatives for those unable to access current provision
• Review the impact of Safe Sleep winter provision and determine whether a Night Shelter model is a viable option in the local area to provide emergency accommodation.
• Improve awareness and quality of leaflets and guides about homelessness, and how to get help.
• Pilot a Housing First  model of accommodation for entrenched rough sleepers to provide options for those who are failed by existing services.
• Trial the provision of services outside of the Council offices where clients are more likely to engage.

The strategy can be viewed at:
https://www.exeter.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/consultations-and-petitions/joint-exeter-and-teignbridge-homelessness-strategy/

You can see the strategy and fill in a brief survey by following this link to the Teignbridge website www.teignbridge.gov.uk/policy

 

Exeter Citizen | Corn Exchange review

A review is set to be carried out on the future of Exeter’s South Street and the Corn Exchange block.

The review will assess what, if anything, needs to be done to the location.

The City Council is open-minded moving forward but accepted that improvements could be made to the area in light of the changing dynamic of the city centre. Leases to the Corn Exchange block come to an end in 2020.

The proposed review comes on the back of news that the Corn Exchange is performing well.

During 2015, the City Council run venue staged a total of 382 shows and events, bringing in a record income of £820,000.

The Council said: “The Corn Exchange is doing particularly well in it’s current form but we might ask the question ‘could it do better?’ At the moment, it has a capacity of 500 which limits the type of shows that can be put on. For this reason we are looking at whether a new performance venue is needed for the future.”

South Street will also be looked at as part of the review.

The West Quarter is a bustling hive of independent businesses and creative activity. However, South Street may to some people look a little unloved and in need of attention.

A detailed assessment will engage with businesses, residents and city centre groups on the best way forward. A steering group made up of interested parties will be set up and consultation events held.

A comprehensive analysis would enable the City Council to explore options in the area, such as improved signage, enhanced street amenities and the creation of a ‘draw’ to encourage visitors into South Street and on to the Quay.

FURTHER READING:
ECC Media Release: Review set for Corn Exchange block and South Street [25 February 2016]

Scrutiny Committee: Economy: South Street / Corn Exchange Regeneration [03 March 2016]

Scrutiny Committee: Economy: Exeter Corn Exchange – Performance review  [03 March 2016]