Purpose

Following the Cabinet’s declaration of a Housing Emergency in December 2023, opportunities for the Council to consider larger property purchases are being investigated. Larger acquisitions of property already constructed can give us good quality additional units at scale and will help to mitigate some of the impact of the Housing Emergency.

Cabinet is being asked to approve a significant property purchase by the HRA close to the city centre which would provide 77 flats for social rent.

Decision

Appendices B, C, D, E, F G, and H of this report are exempt from publication pursuant to Paragraphs 14, 16, and 21 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED: that

1. the progress being made to address the on-going Housing Emergency in Cardiff be noted
2. the acquisition of the properties and land identified in confidential appendices B & C be approved and authority be delegated to the Corporate Director – People and Communities in consultation with the S151 Officer, Legal services and the Cabinet members for Housing and Communities and Finance, Modernisation and Performance to authorise exchange of contracts and completion of those properties in accordance with the Heads of Terms annexed to this report subject to:

·       Approval of appropriate grant funding being secured from Welsh Government

·       Confirmation of a suitable financial viability assessment for each purchase

·       Confirmation that the decision does not result in commitments outside the budget framework.

1. the extension of the use of specific hotel provision at the Copthorne hotel as family homeless accommodation be approved for a period of approximately 12 months.
2. the Cardiff Local Housing Needs Assessment (2022-2027) be approved.