Decision

Salford City Council - Record of Decision (Cabinet)

I Paul Dennett, City Mayor, in exercise of the powers contained within the City Council Constitution do hereby:

a)    Approves the council entering into a Grant Funding Agreement (GFA) with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) for the grant funding relating to the Empty Homes Leasing Programme.

b)    Authorise the City Solicitor to enter into final Grant Funding Agreements between the GMCA and Salford City Council; and any onward GFA’s as required as well as any other documentation to give effect to the above recommendations.

The Reasons are:

To enable the use of empty properties within the city for use as temporary / settled accommodation to fulfil the council’s statutory duties under the Hosing Act 1996 (as amended) with a view to reducing the use and spend of temporary accommodation and providing access to settled privately rented accommodation for vulnerable households to prevent homelessness. 

Options considered and rejected were:

Not to proceed in with entering into the GFA with GMCA to facilitate this scheme.

Assessment of Risk: Low

The decision to enter the GFA with GMCA does not put any financial burden upon the council in delivering this scheme.

The source of funding is: Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) funding.

Legal Advice obtained:

Richard Purcell, Legal Services 19/05/2026

The Council has a general power under Section 1 of the Localism Act 2011 to receive and accept grants. The grant must be spent on delivering the grant purposes as per and subject to the terms of the grant funding agreement entered into. Grant funding agreement terms are normally weighted in favour of the grant maker and failure to comply with the grant purpose and grant terms by the Council could result in recovery/repayment, reduction, suspension and/or withholding of the grant. The use of the grant by the Council will be effected in compliance with subsidy control rules and any relevant grant funding obligations the Council is subject to will be flowed down as appropriate in onward grant funding agreements and procurement contracts.

Financial Advice obtained:
Capital – Adam Mozley, Senior Accountant, 08.05.2026

The report is requesting approval to enter a grant funding agreement with GMCA, relating to the Empty Homes Leasing Programme. The Grant funding is available for  Salford Council to provide temporary/settled accommodation to fulfil its statutory duties under the Housing Act 1996. GMCA has agreed to provide the Council with Core Grant funding of up to £1,539,908 which is to be used by the Council to deliver the GM Empty Homes and Leasing Programme in the Council’s LA area.

Out of the £1,539,908 of the grant award, the Council will use £1,426,006 of the Funding to deliver capital works within the Empty Homes Leasing Programme, which will be used to cover costs of bringing empty homes into use as temporary and/or settled accommodation for families who would otherwise be in unsuitable accommodation.

The Council is also being provided £113,902 of the “Revenue Funding” to cover the costs of employing 2 FTE staff during the Funding Period who will work as Empty Homes Officers for the Council and who will identify empty homes within the Council’s LA area and support owners to bring them back into use.

There are terms and conditions within the Grant funding agreement in which the council must comply to. Failure to follow the terms and conditions could result in a financial risk of losing the grant funding and paying back any used funding back to GMCA. Finance will ensure frequent capital budget monitoring meetings are set in place in order to maximise the usage of the grant funding agreement. The Grant will be sat within the Regulatory Service capital programme.

Procurement Advice obtained:  N/A

HR Advice obtained: N/A

Climate Change Advice obtained: N/A

The following documents have been used to assist the decision process:

·       Empty Homes Leasing Programme Grant Funding Agreement

·       Letter from Michael Hughes, GMCA, confirmation of 3-year funding commitment

Contact Officer:

Rachael Williamson  rachael.williamson@salford.gov.uk

·       The appropriate scrutiny to call-in the decision is the Growth and Prosperity Scrutiny Panel                 

Signed:____P.Dennett_____________   Dated: 17.06.26

             City Mayor

For Democratic Services use only

This decision was published on 18.06.26.                                            

This decision will come in force on 25.06.26 unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.