Purpose

Cabinet is recommended to agree
that the Council complete a lease transaction on the specific
proposal outlined in the report for new self-contained temporary
accommodation supply in the borough.
 

Content

Cabinet:

(1)         
agreed to the Council taking a 5 year serviced lease
(with the option to break on six months’ notice after a
minimum term of 18 months) of the London Walthamstow Hotel
543 & 586 Lea Bridge Rd, Leyton, London E10 7EB
& E10 7DN (formerly known as the Sleeping
Beauty Hotel/All Seasons Hotel), consisting of 221 self-contained
rooms to be used as temporary accommodation in fulfilment of the
council’s duties towards families in housing need on the
Heads of Terms at Appendix A of the report;

(2)         
agreed to the council taking a 3-year lease of at
Waterside Lodge, a former care home in Southern Leytonstone,
consisting of 24 self-contained rooms to be used as temporary
accommodation in fulfilment of the Council’s duties towards
families in housing need on the Heads of Terms at Appendix B of the
report;

(3)         
agreed, in principle, the option to
purchase the freehold of Waterside Lodge at any
point during the lease term, subject to
agreement of commercial terms; and

(4)         
delegated authority for the agreement of the final
terms of the lease transactions of London Walthamstow Hotel and
Waterside Lodge, and final terms of the acquisition of Waterside
Lodge, to the Commercial Director, Property and Delivery, in
consultation with the Strategic Director of Place, the Strategic
Director of Resources, the Corporate Director of Governance and Law
and the Corporate Director of Housing.
 
Options & Alternatives
Considered

Do nothing - the alternative to not proceeding with
these lease transactions would be to continue to house large
numbers of households in shared accommodation, and to place
households in costly commercial hotels. These are more frequently
located within neighbouring boroughs due to lack of suitable supply
within the borough. Continuing with the current position not only
puts huge financial pressure on the Council but means more
residents are placed out of borough.