Decision details

Local Authority Housing Fund

Decision Maker: Executive

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Consider and approve the proposals for the Council to acquire 7 x three bedroom homes and to refurbish 2 x three bedroom properties in our existing stock to be made available for the scheme and to purchase 1 x four bedroom property

Recommend to the Council to approve capital spend of up to a maximum of £3.4m to meet the total cost of acquiring the additional homes, to be funded from a combination of
the LAHF grant and long-term borrowing

Decision:

RESOLVED that the Executive consider and approve the proposals for the Council to acquire 7 x three bedroom homes and to refurbish 2 x three bedroom properties in our existing stock to be made available for the scheme.

 

RECOMMENDED to Council to approve capital spend of up to a maximum of

£3.4m to meet the total cost of acquiring the additional homes, to be funded

from a combination of the LAHF grant and long-term borrowing.

Reasons for the decision:

i.       There is an opportunity to acquire additional three bedroom temporary accommodation to help alleviate current and anticipated pressure on the housing service for larger family homes due to the additional demand from Ukrainian households in the area as well as Afghan households placed in the borough.

 

ii.     The Council’s current temporary accommodation is predominately two bedroom homes, with a need to increase larger family homes due to current and anticipated demand.

 

iii.    Any units acquired will be owned and managed by the Council and will be available for use by the housing service as required, including but not limited to Ukrainian and Afghan households in the Borough. The exception to this will be for the four bedroom unit which will need to be provided to a household in bridging accommodation and will become available to the service when no longer required for this purpose.

Alternative options considered:

Detailed within the report.

Interests and Nature of Interests Declared:

None

Reason Key: Affects more than 1 ward;

Wards Affected: (All Wards);

Financial Impact: Government grant of £1.6 million capital funding.

Declarations: None

Subject to Urgent Proceedings: No

Making Representations: In writing to the Executive Director: People

Other reasons / organisations consulted

N/A

Consultees

N/A

Contact: Brian Daly, Head of Housing Email: brian.daly@bracknell-forest.gov.uk, Grainne Siggins, Executive Director People Email: grainne.siggins@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.

Report author: Mark Barratt

Publication date: 21/03/2023

Date of decision: 21/03/2023

Decided at meeting: 21/03/2023 - Executive

Effective from: 29/03/2023

Accompanying Documents:

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk