Decision

RESOLVED: Cabinet:

1)     Authorises the Assistant Director Assets & Environment to take leases of the two properties mentioned in the report on the terms set out there.

2)     Gives the Assistant Director Assets & Environment standing authorisation to take leases of properties where these are to deliver services by the Council and the cost of so doing is covered by existing service budgets and is reasonably expected to be covered during the term of the lease, such leases not to exceed ten years’ and six months commitment on the part of the Council. When the total consideration (rent and premium) the Council would be committed to exceeds £100,000 or the committed term exceeds five years, such decisions are only to be taken after consultation with the Executive Director Resources and the Cabinet Member for Finance. The Constitution to be amended accordingly.  

REASONS RESOLVED:

•         In the case of the two specific proposed leases, to enable the Council to meet its statutory duties to house people who are, or who are at risk of being, homeless in an effective and efficient way.

•         In the case of the proposed new delegation, to enable future such cases, and similar ones, to be handed expeditiously whilst providing a clear framework for decisions so that they support the Council’s duties and financial frameworks.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

1)     The Council could enter into one, both, or neither of the proposed leases. Given the scale of need and the corresponding pressure to identify solutions, it seems desirable that both leases are taken up.

2)     The Council could also retain decisions on all such future leases with a combined premium and rental value exceeding £0.5m to Cabinet. However, within carefully defined parameters it seems sensible to propose that authority to take leases for service use is delegated. This should allow swift action tied to when lease negotiations conclude.