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ADC Cabinet Member for Housing and Citizen
Services:
 

1.   
That approval be given to a 5-year block-booking service contract
(with 3-year break clause) with a private sector TA provider to
acquire nomination rights to 11 units of TA within a House of
Multiple Occupation (HMO) comprising 11 rooms with shared
facilities for single people. Also to note that 5 of the units are
fully wheelchair accessible and all rooms are currently occupied by
Adur and Worthing residents on a
spot-purchase basis. The provider has agreed to lower their nightly
rates in exchange for a fixed-term agreement.

2.   
That within existing and approved budgets, it be agreed that
delegated authority be given under delegation 2.6.8 of the Officer
Scheme of Delegations for the Assistant Director Housing and
Homelessness Prevention to enter into a service contract for the
purpose of acquiring TA. 
 
 
WBC Cabinet Member for Housing and Citizen
Services:
 
 

1.   
That approval be given to a 5-year block-booking service contract
(with 3-year break clause) with a private sector TA provider to
acquire nomination rights to 11 units of TA within a House of
Multiple Occupation (HMO) comprising 11 rooms with shared
facilities for single people. Also to note that 5 of the units are
fully wheelchair accessible and all rooms are currently occupied by
Adur and Worthing residents on a
spot-purchase basis. The provider has agreed to lower their nightly
rates in exchange for a fixed-term agreement.

2.   
That within existing and approved budgets, it be agreed that
delegated authority be given under delegation 2.6.8 of the Officer
Scheme of Delegations for the Assistant Director Housing and
Homelessness Prevention to enter into a service contract for the
purpose of acquiring TA. 

Reasons for the decision

Member for WBC: Providing temporary
accommodation to our residents with housing needs is a statutory
duty and a top priority for our Councils. The accommodation
discussed in this decision is already being used to support
Adur and Worthing residents. It is
especially a helpful facility with provision for wheelchair users.
The lease will allow us to offer this provision to our residents
while significantly cutting down the costs of spot bookings and
provide much greater reliability. Having a longer term lease with a
break clause is financially prudent and improves on our current
arrangements. ÖB
 
ADC Cabinet member for Housing & Citizen
Services: Adur & Worthing has a
shortage of temporary accommodation in comparison with other local
authorities which means it has to use private sector provision. The
council is continuing to secure more affordable temporary
accommodation by acquiring long-term leases and service level
agreements with providers. This accommodation is already being used
as temporary accommodation by Adur
& Worthing Councils on a spot-purchase basis, so the booking
fees will be set at a lower fixed rate for the duration of the
contract.

Alternative options considered

Member for WBC: The alternative to signing a
lease with the provider is to continue with the current spot
bookings arrangement which is far costlier and less reliable.
Therefore the lease arrangement is highly preferable.
 
ADC Cabinet Member for Housing & Citizen
Services: Consideration of not securing this lease would imply that
the council doesn’t reduce its burden of using expensive
spot-purchased accommodation.