Issue - meetings

Background:

The report sought delegated authority for the purchasing of large blocks of accommodation as part of the Temporary Accommodation Acquisition Programme.  The purchase of these properties would provide a large proportion of the Temporary Accommodation Acquisition Programme target of 150 homes, reduce budget pressures and further assist the Council in delivering its services to address demand relating to homelessness and temporary accommodation.

The Cabinet had previously recommended that £41,925,000 be added to the Capital Programme for the purchasing of temporary accommodation as well as taking on leases of properties for use as temporary accommodation and the set-up of an internal lettings department which had been approved by Full Council on 24 January 2024.

An Exempt Appendix to the report set out further information about the sites proposed for purchase.

Reasons:

This enables the service to purchase bulk properties (large blocks of accommodation) for temporary accommodation purposes, using the capital addition already agreed by Full Council as set out above. 

The acquisition of Site A and Site B (as set out in the Exempt Appendix 1 to the report) would provide a large proportion of the Temporary Accommodation Acquisition Programme target of 150 homes, reduce budget pressures and further assist the Council in delivering its services to address demand relating to homelessness and temporary accommodation.

The current demand and cost for temporary accommodation is significant and has already been identified as an identified budget pressure. This delegation will allow for negotiations to be finalised and the acquisition of these properties to be secured in a timely manner, without this in place there is a risk these acquisition opportunities will be lost.