Purpose

To approve the capital budget allocated to Strategic Housing through the Council’s capital programme to meet the immediate housing need of vulnerable groups and provide grant assistance to property owners to bring empty properties back into use.

Decision

a)    The Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth approves the spend of £4.1 million for Strategic Housing capital projects over the next three years.

b)    Authority is delegated to the Corporate Director, Community Wellbeing to take all operational decisions and allow flexibility in the use of the budget to meet identified immediate housing need with the parameters of this report.

Alternative options considered

1.     Do nothing. This is not recommended as the council has a statutory duty prevent homelessness and where homelessness does occur, to provide accommodation for people and families in housing need. Additionally, the council is a corporate parent for children in care and care leavers. Government data indicates that care leavers are disproportionately affected by homelessness compared with their peers.

2.     Not to approve the use of the capital funding for the purposes outlined in this report; this would be in conflict with the decision taken at full council on 13 February 2026 to approve the council’s capital programme and with the Council’s Plan 2024 – 2028; specifically the people and place priorities which seek to enable residents to realise their potential, to be healthy and to be part of great communities that support each other and have access to the right housing in the right place.