Purpose

To accept a capital grant of £2,899,500 and a revenue grant of £22,548 and to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which sets out the agreed working relationship between Herefordshire Council and
the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government regarding the administration and delivery of the fourth round of the Local Authority
Housing Fund – (LAHF 4).

Decision

That:

a)     The capital grant of £2,899,500 and revenue grant of £22,548 from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in respect of the Local Authority Housing Fund Round 4 (LAHF 4) is accepted.

b)     Acceptance of any further funding through this, or any further rounds, of the Local Authority Housing Fund is delegated to the Corporate Director Community Wellbeing in consultation with the Section 151 Officer.

c)     Authority is delegated to the Corporate Director, Community Wellbeing to take all operational decisions in relation to delivering recommendation (a) and delivery of projects in relation to any further rounds of the Local Authority Housing Fund including authority to enter into associated grant acceptance documentation and related contracts.

Alternative options considered

1.           Not to accept the funding. This is not recommended as the council has a statutory duty prevent homelessness and where homelessness does occur, to provide accommodation for households in housing need.