Purpose

Since November 2021, West
Sussex County Council (WSCC) has been responsible for providing
support for refugees and family groups in the county under the
British government resettlement scheme.
 
In March 2023, the UK
government announced plans to permanently end the use of bridging
accommodation. Previously used bridging hotel accommodation
was served closure notices by the Home Office and in accordance
with government requirements the hotels closed on 31 August 2023.
Home Office contingency accommodation remains available until 31
December 2023, after this point no further Home Office accommodation is available. West Sussex
County Council is therefore charged with securing accommodation for
the remaining refugee families otherwise at risk of
homelessness.
 
Securing accommodation is
within a commercial rental market and therefore the ability to
present a quick decision is frequently required. All accommodation
is financed using Home Office grant
monies at no cost to West Sussex County Council.
 
The Assistant Director
(Communities) is asked to approve the allocation of Government
Grant monies to acquire rental accommodation for refugees, in
accordance with Government requirements and conditions.
 
Due to the need for this matter
to be determined as soon as possible, the decision maker has secured agreement from the
Director of Law and Assurance and the Chairman of the Communities,
Highways and Environment Scrutiny Committee for this decision to be taken with
limited notice asper the County Council’s
Constitution - Part 4, Section 1, Standing Order 3.57 (Regulation
11).
 

Decision

The Assistant Director (Communities) has
approved to enter a nominations agreement for up to 11 new homes in
the West Sussex area for a term of three years, from December 2023
to December 2026 with a commercial property provider.  
 
(Please note the
identity of the provider is withheld from the published version of
the report for reasons of commercial confidentiality and has
instead been published as a part II appendix).