Purpose

Approval to
use the vacant
propertieswithin
Penn House and the wider Regeneration Area for Temporary
Accommodation (TA) for
homeless householdsprior to
demolition and commencement of construction. The use of Penn House
and other vacant properties for Temporary Accommodation is in line
with the Fairer Housing pillar to tackle homelessness within the
Borough. 

Decision

1.  Summary of Decision
 
1.1 That the
Cabinet Member delegated authority to the Executive
Director of Environment, Climate and Public Protection
to:

 
(a) 
Approve the use of Penn House, Gayhurst House and 6-12 Lilestone Street for TA under
Part VII of the Housing Act 1996.

 
(b) 
Review the rent levels for lettings and decide how
these are split between the Housing Revenue Account and General
Fund (“GF”).
 
(c)  
Award and approve necessary funds to accommodate and
refurbish Penn House to comply with TA letting standards, as well
as for Gayhurst House and Lilestone Street once these costs are
known.
 
(d) 
Enter into
a leasing arrangement with a Registered Provider
that will then lease Penn House, 6-12 Lilestone Street and Gayhurst House back to the Council for use as
TA.
 
(e) 
The Cabinet Member also noted this report provides an assessment of the financial viability
for operating Penn House as TA. This is because a quote has been
sought for the refurbishment, and the timescales for operating the
block as TA are known. This information is less readily available
for the units at Gayhurst and
Lilestone Street. Nonetheless, an
identical viability test would be undertaken when those units are
ready to be converted, and authority delegated to the Executive
Director of Finance & Resources to approve the allocation of
the capital funds required to proceed.
 
2.    
Reason for Decision
2.1 This report seeks
to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Environment,
Climate and Public Protection to use vacant properties at Penn
House, Gayhurst House and 6-12
Lilestone Street as TA. 
 
TA is sought for a
period of at least three years for the above blocks prior to
demolishing and commencing the development of the Lilestone Street site. Residents of Penn House
recently completed a successful relocation to Daventry House.
Gayhurst House currently exhibits a
small number of voids. As development plans cement, a void strategy
will also be required for these homes if more homes are purchased
or sold. In addition, vacant social homes will need to be outlined
to understand wider renewal impacts.
 
By way of this
decision, the Council aims to make best use of its assets whilst
Penn House, Gayhurst House and 6-12
Lilestone Street are vacated. This
council also aims to tackle key issues around homelessness, in line
with the Fairer Housing pillar of the Councils Fairer Westminster
Vision.
 
All three blocks will provide
good quality in-borough accommodation available for vulnerable
single homeless people and larger homeless families. Throughout the
period, provisions at Penn House will have staff on site 24 hours
per day, with additional support provided to residents depending
upon need.