To approve the acquisition of eight properties and to undertake the refurbishment of numbers 4 & 5 Blackfriars Street, Hereford.

The leader of the council explained that this item had been added to the agenda as an urgent matter due to the deadlines to accept and spend the grant funding. He noted that the chairman of the general scrutiny committee had agreed to its inclusion on the agenda.

The cabinet member housing, regulatory services and community safety introduced the report. She explained that the grant funding had been provided in response to the covid situation and the need to provide safe accommodation for homeless individuals. Various accommodation options had been used and there were still around 90 households in temporary accommodation which was an ongoing revenue pressure for the council. The report sought approval to accept the grant award for the purchase of eight properties from the open market and the refurbishment of the council property at 4 and 5 Blackfriars Street. Given the buoyant housing market it was necessary to move quickly to secure suitable properties and spend the grant within the timescales required.

In discussion of the report cabinet members noted that:

•               The proposal was in line with the homelessness strategy;

•               The refurbishment of 4/5 Blackfriars Street would create 6 units in total and aim to reduce the carbon footprint as much as possible, it was hoped that the works would be delivered for less than was set out in the report but number 5 was known to be in a bad state of repair;

•               Social value would be embedded in the contract, making use of local labour as much as possible.

Group leaders expressed support for the proposal but stressed the need to achieve value for money and monitor the project to ensure high standards were delivered.

It was resolved that:

(a)       Cabinet accepts the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) capital grant of £420k for the purposes of purchasing up to eight properties

(b)       Approval is given to purchase up to eight properties within a budget of £1,120k and to refurbish 4 & 5 Blackfriars Street within a budget of £500k, to enable the council to protect and accommodate those currently in Covid-19 emergency accommodation from future homelessness.

(c)       Authority to purchase the properties be delegated to the Director for economy and place, following consultation with relevant cabinet members and the Chief Finance Officer.