Councillor's 'agonising' cuts to homeless service

Sean Gaul said he used the service when he became homeless at 17

A councillor has described a decision to make cuts to a service he used himself when he was homeless as "agonising".

Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member Sean Gaul approved a plan to reduce support beds for young people leaving the care system by more than 20%, and the maximum age range for support from 25 to 21 years old.

The decision has been criticised by Oxfordshire's district councils and Oxford City Council, who claim it will increase the risk of young people becoming homeless.

But Mr Gaul said steps were in place to ensure nobody would be made homeless as a result of the changes.

Mr Gaul, who has responsibility for children and young people, said he had spent the last six weeks examining the Young People's Supported Accommodation programme.

He also said he used the service when he became homeless at 17, and credited it with shaping his life's chances.

The scheme helps people leaving the care system to adapt to independent living, supporting them to learn the skills to live on their own and continue education, training and employment.

Young people who are homeless can also access it via the district councils and the city council.

Oxfordshire County Council said the decision was made in partnership with service providers

Mr Gaul said: "When I was 17, the local authorities stepped in and supported me and I have to make sure that we step in and support those today that need it.

"But there's an age correction that's needed, because at the moment the scheme is looking after those up to the age of 25, yet we're legally required to support these up to the age of 21.

"If the authority keeps on taking measures that it's not legally obliged to do, we're at risk of not being able to support anybody."

At a meeting on Tuesday, Mr Gaul approved changes to the contract, lowering the maximum age for support, and reducing the service by as many as 49 beds.

The county council said the decision was made in partnership with service providers, and the reductions were made in locations that were already being underused.

Mr Gaul said: "It's been agonising. It's been really, really, really tricky and it's dominated my life for the past six weeks. And quite right.

"If we're going to make a decision as big and as profound as this, it should be hard to make."