Plans to double capacity of Leamington homeless hostel given go ahead

Plans to double the capacity of a homeless hostel in Leamington have been approved in spite of a 'virus of distrust' between the management team and a neighbourhood group put in place to monitor how it was run.

Warwick District Council had asked to increase the capacity of William Wallsgrove House, in Lillington Road, from 11 beds to 22 beds - and up to 30 in severe weather conditions.

The plans were given temporary approval for six months in October so that an oversight group could be formed to oversee the effectiveness of the management plan and address concerns from local residents regarding crime and anti-social behaviour. That group was formed and met in November, December and January.

Cllr Jonathan Nicholls (Lab, Clarendon), chairs the group which includes councillors, residents, officers, police and hostel management and told members of Wednesday’s Warwick District Council planning committee about some of the issues they had faced.

He said: “The voice of the oversight group must be an important consideration in the committee’s deliberations tonight.

“The controversy about this application is simply stated - does the social benefit of a hostel of this type in this location outweigh the disturbance through increased anti-social behaviour, crime and environmental hazards that degrades the rights for amenity and quiet enjoyment by residents of their homes and neighbourhood.”

Cllr Nicholls added there were issues around the unsatisfactory nature of data presented to the group and difficulty in obtaining reports and recommendations.

He said: “This created a petri dish in which the virus of distrust has flourished. The oversight group has worked hard to dispel that distrust but fears remain should the hostel be permitted to increase the number of residents at any one time to 22.

“The oversight group recommends the committee approves a further time limit extension in which periods of review are undertaken.”

Members of the committee also heard from local residents and Royal Leamington Spa Town Council who opposed the application while Cllr Jan Matecki (Con, Budrooke), the council’s portfolio holder for housing and property, urged approval to help with recruitment explaining: “The hostel will not be able to attract quality staff if it can offer only short-term posts.”

Councillors voted by ten votes to one to approve the application as long as a note was added calling for better co-operation.

Cllr James Kennedy (Green, Kenilworth Park Hill) said: “There are some deficiencies in the way it has worked and we are not going to get a good result unless these are addressed.”

And committee chairman Cllr Alan Boad (Lib Dem, Leamington Lillington) added: “There is clearly an issue between the group we have asked to be set up and the management of the centre getting closer together.

“It is crucial for the success of this to build that relationship and trust. A lot of it comes down to trust between parties and the sharing of information - that’s what needs to be stressed in the note.”