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WBC Cabinet Member for Citizen Services
 
That a 5-year (with 3-year break clause)
service contract be approved with a private sector TA provider to
acquire nomination rights to 19 ensuite
rooms within a licensed HMO with on
site staffing provision and shared cooking facilities for
single people. Nine of the rooms will have the option to convert to
private rented accommodation though the Council’s Opening
Doors letting service.
 
That the Assistant Director Housing and
Homelessness Prevention be delegated to enter into a service
contract for the purpose of acquiring TA. 
 
ADC Cabinet Member for Housing and Citizen
Services
 
That a 5-year (with 3-year break clause)
service contract be approved with a private sector TA provider to
acquire nomination rights to 19 ensuite
rooms within a licensed HMO with on
site staffing provision and shared cooking facilities for
single people. Nine of the rooms will have the option to convert to
private rented accommodation though the Council’s Opening
Doors letting service.
 
That the Assistant Director Housing and
Homelessness Prevention be delegated to enter into a service
contract for the purpose of acquiring TA. 

Reasons for the decision

WBC Cabinet Member for Citizen Services
 
We have an extremely pressing need for
Emergency and Temporary accommodation in Worthing, especially for
single-person households. Having such accommodation centrally in
town is especially valuable, enabling residents to continue with
their work and care commitments and their ability to draw on their
social support networks for their wellbeing. The contract also
offers built-in flexibility for some units to be converted into
permanent housing for some residents through the Opening Doors
letting service, potentially providing these units as permanent
accommodation for residents as they are able. The break-in clause
provides further security, should demand for TA change in the
coming years. Ödül Bozkurt,
WBC
 
ADC Cabinet Member for Housing & Citizen
Services:
 
Adur District has
a shortage of temporary accommodation and so it’s forced to
use the private sector. Expenditure on temporary accommodation
poses a significant risk to the council’s budgets and by
using more cost-effective options to acquire suitable temporary
accommodation remains an urgent priority. It’s prudent for
the councils to minimise the use of spot-purchased accommodation
and enter into a service level agreement with a provider to bring
down the overall costs. The flexibility allowed with this contract
provides further security should the demand change in the coming
years.

Alternative options considered

WBC Cabinet Member for Citizen Services
 
Alternatives to having such accommodation is
spot bookings, which are not likely to be in-town or even in-area.
This is far more costly and often detrimental to the wellbeing of
residents. What the contract would allow the Council to offer is
superior both financially and in terms of service quality.
Ödül Bozkurt, WBC
 
ADC Cabinet Member for Housing and Citizen
Services:
 
Not securing this service level agreement
would imply that the council doesn’t reduce its burden of
using expensive spot-purchased accommodation.