Purpose

The Leader’s Decision
Report (26 February 2026) recommends approval of the procurement of
a provider and the grant of a lease to enable the scheme to operate
in line with the business case and support the Council’s
prevention first approach to homelessness. Authority is delegated
to the Head of Housing, Revenues & Customer Services, in
consultation with Head of Law and Governance, to finalise and
complete the contractual documents and lease
arrangements.

Content

To approve the procurement of a
provider to operate 1 Evesham Place as supported accommodation,
including:
 

procurement of
housing management and support services, and
the grant of a 5?year
lease to the successful provider to enable the delivery of those
services.

 
This decision is taken under
delegated authority to finalise and enter
into the required contractual and lease
arrangements.

Reasons for the decision

1
Evesham Place has been acquired, reconfigured and refurbished to
create a six?unit
supported accommodation scheme for single people who are homeless
or at risk of homelessness and who require low to medium levels of
accommodation?based
support.
The
refurbishment has transformed the former nine?bedroom HMO into self?contained units with communal and support
spaces, meeting HMO and fire safety standards.
To
realise the strategic and financial benefits of the approved
business case and reduce reliance on hotel and guest house
accommodation. The Council must now put in place suitable
operational arrangements. Procurement of a specialist provider,
operating under a concession?style model, enables:

·        
delivery of housing management, repairs, maintenance
and support services.

·        
operation via exempt accommodation rental and
service charge income.

·        
transfer of day to day
operational risk to the provider while the Council retains asset
ownership.

·        
compliance with the Supported Housing (Regulatory
Oversight) Act 2023 and National Supported Housing
Standards.
The Leaders Decision (26
February 2026) approves the procurement approach and the grant of a
lease, with authority delegated to the Head of Housing, Revenues
& Customer Services to complete all necessary
arrangements.

Alternative options considered

Option 1 – Approve the procurement and lease
(chosen)
This option enables 1 Evesham Place to open as supported
accommodation, delivering improved outcomes for vulnerable single
people and reducing the Council’s dependence on costly
B&B accommodation.
 
Option 2 – Do not proceed
This would leave a fully refurbished but empty building, result in
ongoing running costs without benefit and fail to reduce B&B
use or support homelessness prevention.