Purpose

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.

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.

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.

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.

This report proposes the procurement of the 4th 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 41.

Decision

1. 1       To approve the freehold acquisition of a 2 bed house in Armitage for the sale price of £ 199,000  See Appendix 1 (confidential) for property information.
2. 2       To note that the council will work with Homes England ongoing to determine whether any external funding is available to contribute to the purchase and delivery of this accommodation unit. Should funding be available, any underspend of capital monies to fund this property will be maintained in the capital budget for further purchases.