To accept additional grant from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) via the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP 5) and the associated grant terms and conditions. This funding was not anticipated and as such was not included as part of the original decision.

To approve the acquisition of a minimum of five properties from the open market within a defined budget and to allow officers, following appropriate consultation and due diligence, to proceed with the acquisitions.

That:

a) The Cabinet Member accepts the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities additional capital grant of £460,000 for the purpose of purchasing an additional minimum of five properties and a revenue grant of £124,899 for dedicated support workers and associated services;

b) Authority for acquisition of the properties and all associated operational decisions needed in respect to the grants in recommendation a) including authority to award contracts for improvement works and the negotiation of the lease to a housing provider be delegated to the Corporate Director Community Wellbeing;

c) Delegates acceptance to the S151 officer (in consultation with the Corporate Director Community Wellbeing) in respect to any future grant funding received from central government that becomes available under substantially the similar conditions as SHAP; and

d) Delegates to the Corporate Director Community Wellbeing authority to utilise such grant for the purposes that the grant was provided including that in recommendation b).

1.             Not to proceed with the grant. The option is not recommended as the council has a number of statutory duties to meet in relation to the accommodation of vulnerable groups such as homelessness and children that the council are responsible for as a Corporate Parent.