Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF)
Report of the Strategic Director, Housing,
Environment and Healthy Communities
Minutes:
Consideration has been given to the action
taken in accordance with Schedule 5, Part 2 General
Delegations to Managers, Paragraph (4) (e) of the Council’s
Constitution, to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing &
Communities (DLUHC), to participate in the Local Authority Housing
Fund (LAHF) programme, which has been made available
to assist local authorities with accommodation pressures in
relation to Afghan and Ukraine resettlement and relocation
schemes, including the purchase of additional residential
dwellings in the Borough.
|
|
|
|
RESOLVED -
|
(i)
|
That the action taken by the Deputy Strategic Director, Housing, Environment and Healthy
Communities and the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and
Governance in entering
into of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of
Levelling Up Housing & Communities for the Local Authority
Housing Fund, in accordance with
Schedule 5, Part 2 General Delegations to Managers, Paragraph (4)
(e) of the Council’s Constitution, be noted and
endorsed.
|
|
|
|
|
(ii)
|
That the Deputy Strategic
Director, Housing Environment and Healthy Communities, in
consultation with the Strategic Director, Resources & Digital
and the Strategic Director, Corporate Services & Governance be
authorised to negotiate the purchase of residential dwellings that
meet the criteria for the Afghan Relocation Assistance Policy and
the Homes for Ukraine Policy.
|
|
|
|
|
(iii)
|
That it be noted Legal and
Financial advice will be taken on each purchase or acquisition
under (ii) above, the delegation including authority to approve the
signing of the contracts for sale and the sealing of the relevant
conveyancing documents.
|
|
|
|
The above decisions have been made for the
following reasons:
|
|
|
|
|
(A)
|
To contribute
towards the Council’s housing delivery targets to create new
homes including the provision of more affordable homes.
|
|
|
|
|
(B)
|
To secure the
LAHF Grant funding to support an additional 11
properties.
|
|
|
|
|
(C)
|
The scheme will
add the 11 additional family properties and create a lasting supply
of affordable housing for the general population, and stock will
become available to support wider local authority general housing
and homelessness responsibilities after the immediate needs of the
eligible cohort have been addressed.
|
|
|
|
|
(D)
|
To deliver the
objectives of the Housing Strategy 2019-30.
|
|
|
|
|
(E)
|
To ensure
compliance with the Council’s constitution and any
limitations on its relevant legal powers.
|