Purpose

Building on good practice from Tameside, an
agreement was reached with MHCLG that £140,000 of Winter
Pressures funding for 2025/26 would be used to pilot a scheme
whereby funding is made available to local social landlords, in
order to bring void properties back into use, rather than seek to
dispose of them. This report seeks authorisation to enact this
scheme.

Content

RESOLVED - That:
1. That the £140,000 received from MHCLG Winter Pressures
funding is agreed to be used to support Housing Associations to
bring voids back into use, rather than dispose of them.

2. That, working with Legal colleagues, a memorandum of
understanding (or grant agreement if appropriate) between the
Council and interested social housing providers is put in place,
based on that used in Tameside, to specify terms around the use of
this funding.

3. That sign-off on specific properties to be brought back into use
through this scheme is delegated to the Director of
Communities.

Reasons for the decision

Option 1 (preferred option) – agree the
use of this funding as set out, subject to a memorandum of
understanding, and with delegation on agreement of specific
properties given to the Director of Communities.

Option 2 – do not agree to this proposal. This option is not
recommended, as it would mean that opportunities would be missed to
prevent social housing being lost to Oldham, would not allow us to
place from TA into these properties (losing an opportunity to
reduce cost to the Council, and improve provision), and would
require renegotiation with MHCLG on the use of the grant funding
received.

Alternative options considered

Option 2