This meeting of Swale Borough Council's Urgent Decisions Committee will consider an application for financial support from the owners of a holiday park, and an update on the potential purchase of properties as temporary accommodation.

Sheerness Holiday Park

The Committee will consider a report on the potential to provide financial support to the owners of Sheerness Holiday Park. The report, which recommends that financial support is made available, notes that:

The Council is facing a potential crisis situation at Sheerness Holiday Park, should the site be forced to close

The report also sets out the potential impact on the local economy of any such closure:

The economic impact on the Island in terms of job losses, loss of business rates and spend in the local economy is significant.

The report goes on to describe the potential impact on those who live on the park permanently:

There are a significant number of residents living on the site permanently. Should the site be forced to close, this will result in a significant number of residents being made homeless. The Council does not have any suitable temporary accommodation available for these residents and, in the event of the park closing, would likely have to look to place the residents in Travelodges and B&Bs outside of the borough.

Acquisition of Properties for Temporary Accommodation

A report will be considered regarding the potential purchase of properties for use as temporary accommodation. The report recommends that:

delegated authority be granted to the Director of Regeneration and Partnerships to purchase the property

The report says that the properties would:

provide good quality, affordable accommodation for households on the housing register