A report to be discussed at Cabinet today will detail the council's position on the previous night shelter at the Market Hall in Monmouth together with recent Welsh Government's guidance to local authorities about the unsuitability of shared floor space being used for homelessness.
Churches in Monmouth have previously provided winter night shelter provision in Monmouth and had previously received practical and financial support from the council in this regard. Initially, the group utilised their own premises and for the most recent night shelter arrangement in 2020, the Council made available the vacant Monmouth Market Hall. This arrangement was provided under the emergency Covid19 public health measures, to ensure nobody had to sleep rough during the pandemic.
The report states: ”The arrangement ended when a prospective letting of the Market Hall office space had been identified, although due to various reasons, the anticipated letting did not materialise.”
The report continued: “Since being last used as a night-shelter, the council’s Estates Service has continued to actively market Monmouth Market Hall for letting. Earlier in the year, the council identified a new prospective tenant for the vacant office space and has since signed up to a lease agreement. As a result, theMarket Hall is no longer available for any other use. Churches in Monmouth have been made aware of this letting.”
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The Market Hall formerly housed the offices of the Monmouthshire Beacon, the county court, and Monmouth Museum and latterly MCC One Stop Shop and Tourist Information Centre.
The Cabinet report agrees with the action proposed by the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development and Deputy Leader, made on 19th September, to establish how the council could work together with Churches in Monmouth to help find suitable accommodation and provide support to homeless people in Monmouth that complements existing arrangements.
A spokesman for Monmouthshire County Council said: ”The Council recognises the current lack of temporary accommodation in Monmouth, particularly one and two-bedroom self-contained accommodation, and is implementing several actions to increase provision in the area. We're keen to hear from any landlords seeking to let their properties to them.”
Further details can be found here: /www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/housing/mls/.