Purpose

To accept grant funding from MHCLG for Local Authority Housing
Fund – Round 3 (LAHF 3).

To purchase four properties using a mix of LAHF 3 Grant and NNC
capital funding.

Content

RESOLVED
 
KEY DECISION
 
That the Executive:
 

a)       
Noted the request contained in the Capital Update Report
elsewhere on the agenda for expenditure budget approval in total of
£0.878m and accept receipt of the MHCLG LAHF3 grant of
£0.528m towards an acquisition programme, in section 4.9 of
the report, summarised as follows:
 

·     
General Fund Temporary Accommodation £0.636m

·     
HRA Acquisitions £0.242m.
 

b)       
Delegated authority to the Executive Director for Adults,
Health Partnerships and Housing in consultation with the Executive
Member for Housing Landlord Services and Strategic Housing to take
any further decisions and/or actions required to purchase the
properties and appoint appropriate contractors to undertake
refurbishment works if required.
 
Reasons for
Recommendations:
 

i)         
To alleviate increasing demand on homelessness and temporary
accommodation services by increasing the supply of suitable Council
owned temporary accommodation, thus reducing the use of expensive
and unsuitable private provider accommodation. 

 

ii)        
To provide stable accommodation for one Afghan family in the
Resettlement Cohort. 
 

iii)       
To increase the Council’s housing stock at a cost to
the Council of approximately 40% of the market value cost to
purchase the properties, due to the award of LAHF 3
grant.  
 
Alternative Options Considered
- To do nothing. If the Council does not participate in the LAHF 3
programme, it can return the funding allocation. However, the
challenge of providing temporary accommodation to homeless
households will remain. Without a suitable supply of Council owned
and available temporary accommodation, the Council is required to
use costly, nightly paid temporary accommodation from external
providers.