Purpose

The report seeks agreement to accept the Local Authority Housing Funding MHCLG has offered to the council and agreement to match fund to enable the delivery of 2 Temporary and 1 Resettlement Homes

Decision

That Cabinet:

1. Agrees to take part on the Local Authority Housing Fund Round 4 programme, with a view to bringing 3 properties into the council’s ownership to meet housing needs within the district.
2. Delegates to the Service Director of Strategic Growth & Development, in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder, to finalise and agree the terms of the MOU for the LAHF Round 4 programme with MHCLG and
3. That it recommends to Council that the 2026/27 capital programme is amended to reflect the LAHF 4 funds required to match fund the Local Authority Housing Funding of £345,000 received, £70,000 from underspends from round 3, with £434,477 from the council’s S106 affordable housing commuted sum reserves giving a total scheme value of £849,477.

Reasons for the decision

1.    To deliver the programme to increase the supply of Council owned general fund temporary accommodation and re-settlement homes following the offer of the LAHF4 grant.

2.    To meet short term needs of homeless households within the district.

3.    To increase the number of homes owned by the authority and enable the authority to directly deliver housing solutions to issues within the district.

4.    To enable the authority to act swiftly to secure the acquisition of suitable properties identified to meet the needs of residents of the district.

5.    Reduce the need to use costly bed and breakfast accommodation, hotel accommodation or unsuitable housing for clients requiring temporary accommodation.

Alternative options considered

Do nothing - In this event the authority would accept the LAHF 4 from the MHCLG and not proceed with the purchase of properties. Consequently, the expected benefits set out in the Reasons for Recommendations section of this report would not be realised with no increase in housing supply in the district achieved to address need.

Alternative properties – Officers considered a range of options on the types of property that could be acquired to deliver temporary and resettlement homes. Following evaluation of these and taking account of cost, size, location, flexibility, management implications and accessibility, adaptability and overall suitability, the preferred options set out in the report have been arrived at. The option to acquire suitable second-hand properties on the market for accessibility and adaptability for temporary accommodation and new build homes for the re-settlement property are considered the most appropriate way to deliver the programme