Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report of the Head of Finance and Investment.

The Head of Finance and Investment and the Strategic Housing Manager presented the report on the Provision of Interim Housing for Ukrainian Refugees via the Government’s Local Authority Housing Fund.

Members were advised that the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) was designed to help local authorities to house people from Ukraine and Afghanistan who were unable to obtain settled accommodation on resettlement schemes. The intention of the fund was to reduce the impact of new arrivals on existing housing pressures. When the properties were no longer required for the schemes for Ukrainian refugees, they would be transferred into the general needs stock or remain as interim housing for groups outside the parameters.

Kent County Council was in receipt of funding under the LAHF, and under the funding conditions could provide funding to Registered Providers to enable them to acquire properties to be let to Ukrainian refugees and later for use as general needs housing. It had made £840,000 available to the Council to acquire, own and manage six two-bedroom houses.

Members discussed the implications of supporting the Ukrainian refugees and were advised that Kent County Council had previously provided some support to the Council for refugees which could be used to support the residents of the six properties.

RESOLVED: That the recommendations in the report be endorsed.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Finance and Investment.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Housing, Skills and Education

It was agreed:

(a)   That a project to acquire and, where necessary, refurbish six properties for affordable rent, under the terms of the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF), be approved.

(b)   That the Head of Finance and Investment be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Skills and Education, to take the necessary decisions and actions to progress the project and purchase the properties including (but not limited to) accepting LAHF grant funding from Kent County Council, agreeing the purchase price, approving the sale purchase agreements, appointing any necessary professional advisers and agreeing works to bring the properties up to lettable standards.

(c)   That the Head of Finance and Investment be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Skills and Education, to accept further funding, if awarded, from the LAHF and acquire additional properties as required by the grant funding conditions and in accordance with recommendation (b).