Issue - meetings

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.