Purpose

In March 2025, Executive gave its approval for
us to engage in MHCLG’s Round Three grant funding programme,
known as the Local Authority Housing Fund R3 (LAHF R3). This
involves purchasing four street properties and undertaking the
necessary refurbishment, and then letting three of these properties
as Temporary Accommodation, and one as a resettlement property for
specified refugee cohorts from Afghanistan.

Reason for Decision: These actions are required to allow RBBC to
progress with this programme of purchases.
Executive approval for this project was granted in March 2025

The Head of Housing and Intervention is authorised further to
consultation with the:
• Chief Finance Officer,
• Strategic Head of Legal & Governance,
• Executive Member for Commercial & Community
Assets,
• Executive Member for Finance, Governance &
Organisations
• Executive Member for Housing & Support

To:
• (i) Use the Local Authority Housing Fund (grant funding) of
£0.86m, to purchase and refurbish up to 4 properties, to be
retained in the Council’s ownership, for use as temporary
accommodation;
• (ii) Release up to £0.984m from Council Capital
receipt reserves as match funding when purchasing the 4
properties;
• Obtain any necessary surveys, planning consents, quotes and
tenders as required to carry out refurbishment work
• d) Appoint and enter contracts as required with,
consultants, suppliers and builders.

Consultation with the above has taken place.

Decision

1) (i) Use the Local Authority Housing Fund
(grant funding) of £0.86m, to purchase and refurbish up to 4
properties, to be retained in the Council’s ownership, for
use as temporary accommodation;
2) (ii) Release up to £0.984m from Council Capital receipt
reserves as match funding when purchasing the 4 properties;
3) Obtain any necessary surveys, planning consents, quotes and
tenders as required to carry out refurbishment work
4) d) Appoint and enter contracts as required with, consultants,
suppliers and builders.

Alternative options considered

Option 1 - Proceed
Option 2 - Not to proceed with these actions which would lead to a
stall in this programme.