Purpose

To accept additional grant from the Department
of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) via the Single
Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP 5) and the associated
grant terms and conditions. This funding was not anticipated and as
such was not included as part of the original decision.
 
To approve the acquisition of a minimum of
five properties from the open market within a defined budget and to
allow officers, following appropriate consultation and due
diligence, to proceed with the acquisitions.

Decision

That:
 
a) The Cabinet Member accepts the Department
for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities additional capital grant
of £460,000 for the purpose of purchasing an additional
minimum of five properties and a revenue grant of £124,899
for dedicated support workers and associated services;
 
b) Authority for acquisition of the properties
and all associated operational decisions needed in respect to the
grants in recommendation a) including authority to award contracts
for improvement works and the negotiation of the lease to a housing
provider be delegated to the Corporate Director Community
Wellbeing;
 
c) Delegates acceptance to the S151 officer
(in consultation with the Corporate Director Community Wellbeing)
in respect to any future grant funding received from central
government that becomes available under substantially the similar
conditions as SHAP; and
 
d) Delegates to the Corporate Director
Community Wellbeing authority to utilise such grant for the
purposes that the grant was provided including that in
recommendation b).

Alternative options considered

1.            
Not to proceed with the grant. The
option is not recommended as the council has a number of statutory
duties to meet in relation to the accommodation of vulnerable
groups such as homelessness and children that the council are
responsible for as a Corporate Parent.