Content

(i)           
To appropriate the dwellinghouse and curtilage referred to and
shown edged in red on the plan contained in the exempt appendix
(“the Property”) from its current use by the Council in
its function as a burial authority to general housing accommodation
for persons with special needs under section 122 of the Local
Government Act 1972 with effect from the date of this decision;
and
(ii)          
To authorise the granting of a lease of the Property by the Council
to the Council’s housing company Horsham District Homes
(Holdings) Limited for a term of five years at an affordable
rent.
 

Reasons for the decision

The Property is held by the Council for the
purpose of discharging the Council’s function as a burial
authority. The Property is considered to have been residential in
use save for a short period of temporary office use. Save for one
small building situated at the rear of the Property which will
continue to be used by the Council in connection with its function
as a burial authority, the Property itself is no longer required
for this purpose and works were authorised to adapt the house and
grounds of the Property for persons with special needs. Planning
permission was granted for such works
and the Council therefore wishes to appropriate the Property to use
the same as general housing accommodation for persons with special
needs.
 
As the Council is a local housing authority
and discharges its housing function through the Council’s
housing company Horsham District Homes (Holdings) Limited, the
Council will grant a lease of the Property to the housing company
for a term of five years at an affordable rent. This company will
then manage and let out the Property as housing accommodation for
persons with special needs on an assured shorthold tenancy
basis.
 

Alternative options considered

Consideration has been given to different
options for the Property, which include the following:
(a) 
incorporating it into the Temporary Housing Portfolio;
(b) 
disposing of it on the open market; or
(c)  
letting it on an assured shorthold tenancy at an affordable rent to
a family on the housing list with special needs.
 
Option (a) was dismissed owing to its location
to a cemetery.
Option (b) was dismissed owing to the need to
preserve the amenity and tranquillity of the cemetery.