Decision

1.1       Cabinet agreed to
invest £2,157,000 of capital reserves, generated from
commuted sums and right to buy receipts held by the council into
the provision of temporary accommodation/rough sleeper housing
pathway scheme units on 9 April 2024, subject to an options
appraisal.
1.2       The options
appraisal has been completed and indicated the most effective way
to physically deliver temporary accommodation is to purchase
existing built properties and refurbish them utilising some of the
capital sums. 
1.3       The Cabinet Member
for Housing the Local Plan then made the decision to commence?the
investment of?£2,157,000 of capital reserves, generated
from?commuted sums and right to buy receipts,?into the provision of
temporary accommodation across the district, primarily through?the
purchase and refurbishment of existing built properties?following
the completion of an options appraisal as required by?Cabinet on 9
April 2024,?subject to the cost of acquisition and operating costs
being within approved budgets – view decision. Approximately
11 units will be purchased. 
1.4       The council’s
wholly owned trading company, Lichfield West Midlands Traded
Services (LWMTS), is leading on the work to identify and procure
accommodation units in line with the options appraisal. Each
property procurement requires a Cabinet Member
decision. 
1.5       This report proposes
the procurement of 1 unit of the overall approximately 11 units in
line with the decisions made by Cabinet on 9 April 2024. This
procurement will take the total number of units procured as part of
this project up to 1. 

Reasons for the decision

There is a limited supply of
temporary/emergency accommodation units in the district. As a
result, oftentimes families and individuals are placed in bed and
breakfast accommodation with limited facilities outside of the
bedroom, making it unsuitable for long-term placements. 
2.2        Last year, the
council spent approximately £191,000 on temporary
accommodation. Delivering approximately 11 new units of temporary
accommodation through the council will help to reduce the
council’s overall spend. 
2.3       The investment will
significantly expand the council’s ability to provide quality
temporary housing to local people, and follows an in-depth options
appraisal involving the council’s housing, finance,
procurement, and policy teams, which identified that the most
effective approach is to purchase and refurbish existing
properties.
2.4       By focusing on
purchasing and refurbishing existing properties, the council will
be able to deliver much-needed homes in the most efficient and
cost-effective way possible, in locations where people need them
most.
2.5        The
council’s wholly owned trading company, Lichfield West
Midlands Traded Services (LWMTS), will provide property management
support and the tenants will be supported by our housing team. This
will ensure a swift turnaround of properties and maximise our
ability to provide immediate assistance to those in need.
2.6       The council will be
purchasing properties in key locations this winter, including
Lichfield City, Burntwood, Fazeley and Armitage with Handsacre, to
provide residents with easy access to shops, transport, and local
services.

Alternative options considered

There were no other alternative options
given