Purpose

Property purchase of former Residential Care
Home, currently vacant

Content

The Leader:
 

·        
AGREED the balance of the LAHF funding (detailed in
the confidential appendix) approved by the Key Decision Paper
‘Local Authority Housing Fund – Refugees Freehold
Acquisitions’ agreed on 25/08/2023 be used for the purchase
and refurbishment of Holmers House/Jasmine Court.
 

·        
AGREED to release Council Capital Funding (amount
details in the confidential appendix), from the Housing Enabling
Programme, to fund the refurbishment of 13 ‘Move On’
temporary accommodation units within Holmers House & Jasmine
Court, to enable the delivery of Revenue Savings in Temporary
Accommodation and meet the MTFP savings target.
 

·        
AGREED that the Director of Property and Assets in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Accessible Housing and
Resources, the Cabinet Member for Homelessness and Regulatory
Services and S151 Officer is authorised to finalise and conclude
due diligence and agree freehold contracts, exchange and complete
on the acquisition of Holmers House/Jasmine Court.
 

·        
AGREED that annual income negotiated with the
Registered Provider is ringfenced for the creation of a maintenance
sinking fund, to meet long term maintenance costs.
 

·        
AGREED that the Director of Property and Assets is
delegated authority to proceed to apply for any relevant planning
permission and undertake a suitable procurement exercise,
in order to deliver a scheme of
refurbishment to the property, within the budget in consultation
with the Cabinet Members for Accessible Housing and Resources, and
Homelessness and Regulatory Services.
 

·        
AGREED that the Director of Housing in consultation
with the Cabinet Members for Accessible Housing and Resources and
Homelessness and Regulatory Services, is authorised to agree the
terms of the management arrangements.
 
This
decision is being made under ‘special urgency’
provisions of the constitution as the terms of the LAHF grant
necessitate commitment of funds prior to the end of November, to
include at least an exchange of contracts.