Issue - items at meetings - Procurement of council owned short-term temporary accommodation – Gladstone Court, Hartington Road, Brighton

Report of Interim Executive Director for Housing, Neighbourhoods & Communities.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Housing Committee:

2.1      Agrees the purchase of Gladstone Court for the use of emergency and short-term temporary accommodation for a sum to be negotiated up to the maximum set out in the Part 2 report.

2.2      Recommends to Policy & Resources Committee that the Council makes an offer of up to the agreed sum detailed in the Part 2 report to acquire Gladstone Court.

2.3      Recommends to Policy & Resources Committee that the freehold of the site is appropriated from the General Fund for Part II Housing Act 1985 purposes for a fee of up to £250,000, as estimated by external valuation.

52.1    The Committee considered the report presented by Ododo Dafe.

52.2    The report presented to the Housing Committee an opportunity to acquire Gladstone Court, a block of 38 flats. The Council is the freeholder of the site which the vendor holds on a long lease for a term of 150 years. The opportunity enables the Council to meet short-term temporary and emergency accommodation needs, and thereby supports the programme agreed by the Housing & New Homes Committee to purchase council owned short-term temporary accommodation which it will manage itself. It accords with the Housing Committee Work Plan commitments agreed at Housing Committee on 18 September 2019 relating to additional affordable homes, as well as the provision of council run short-term temporary accommodation.

52.3    Councillor Nichole Brennan felt the report was good news and that having the accommodation inhouse was the for the best. It was considered the acquisition would be good temporary accommodation for families. Councillor Brennan considered that having required private landlords to supply descent accommodation, the authority would need to supply the same, if not better.

52.4    Councillor David Gibson noted the site was within their ward and the procurement of the accommodation was a tangible move forward. It was considered by the Councillor that the scheme would stop public money going to private landlords.

52.5    Councillor Mary Mears noted that temporary accommodation had lasted a number of years for some residents and this was a concern. Councillor Mears was informed that the staffing and management of the block would be a new way forward for the Council, but the Housing team have considerable management skills to call on.

52.6    Resolved:

The Housing Committee:

2.1      Agrees the purchase of Gladstone Court for the use of emergency and short-term temporary accommodation for a sum to be negotiated up to the maximum set out in the Part 2 report.

2.2      Recommends to Policy & Resources Committee that the Council makes an offer of up to the agreed sum detailed in the Part 2 report to acquire Gladstone Court.

2.3      Recommends to Policy & Resources Committee that the freehold of the site is appropriated from the General Fund for Part II Housing Act 1985 purposes for a fee of up to £250,000, as estimated by external valuation.