Issue - meetings

Report HPR2024/013

The report provided details of an indicative grant allocation from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities towards housing schemes and summarised how this grant would be allocated. The report also set out how any additional funding from the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities could be utilised if secured.

In response to a question from a Member, the Head of Regeneration explained that the term ‘transitional accommodation’ had been formulated to reflect the high quality of the planned temporary accommodation.  The quality of the proposed scheme was in line with the Local Authority’s permanent housing stock and would comprise separate units with integral kitchens and bathrooms, but would not be compliant with the Mayor of London’s minimum size standards for permanent homes.  A Member asked about the four-bed settlement unit, which was a requirement of the grant, and was advised that the expectation was that this four-bed unit would be located within the Borough which was the requirement unless it could be demonstrated that this was not possible.  Another Member asked for an update on additional funding and the Head of Regeneration confirmed that the Local Authority would receive notification of the grant outcome during the week commencing 8 May 2024.

RESOLVED: That the Council’s Executive be recommended to propose to Full Council the addition of Manorfields to the capital programme and to agree as follows:

1)  Approve the acceptance of DLUHC LAHF Round 3 funding estimated at up to £27.4M (made up of an indicative allocation of £13.9M and a request for a further £13.5M) for the schemes set out in Paragraph 3.5 of Report HPR2024/013, noting some schemes will require further reports; and authorise the Assistant Director of Legal Services to sign and execute all relevant legal documents arising in connection with acceptance of the LAHF;

Based on the Council’s request for funding being approved, as detailed in Paragraph 3.5:

2)  Approve the addition of Manorfields to the Capital Programme at a value of £5.2M; officers will then proceed to procurement via an officer gateway for a multidisciplinary team to design the major repair and refurbishment of Manorfields into Transitional Accommodation. The funding for the Manorfields scheme will be met by LAHF grant of £4.313k, with the balance of £888k to come from the existing Operational Property Review (OPR) capital programme budget;

3)  Approve the appointment of two Senior Project Managers to support the delivery of the schemes set out for a fixed term of two years. These posts will be financed by the Revenue funding in the grant of £111k supplemented by capitalised funding allocated to the relevant schemes; and,

4)  Approve an increase in the Council’s capital programme budget of £638k towards the purchase of a four-bed settlement unit. This will be funded through £284k of LAHF grant, with the balance of £354k to be met from capital programme resources. Note that this purchase is required to meet the grant requirements, and none of the grant can be secured without  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74