Item CB 19/62 referred from Cabinet minutes of 16 October 2019

Item CB 19/62 referred from Cabinet minutes of 16 October 2019.

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations at Minute CB 19/62 be approved.

Item FIP 19/35 referred from Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board minutes of 18 September 2019

Item FIP 19/35 referred from Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board minutes of 18 September 2019

The Cabinet received the recommendations of the Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board at its meeting of 18 September 2019 regarding the purchase of further properties for use as temporary accommodation.  A supplementary report updated progress on the purchase of temporary accommodation in the Borough and requested approval for additional funding to ensure the ability for commercial opportunities to be taken.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)            a sum of £2.1m be added to the Capital Plan for the purchase of property for temporary accommodation purposes, as set out in the supplementary report and accompanying capital plan evaluation annexed thereto, and the Capital Plan be updated accordingly;

(2)            delegated authority be granted to the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health and Director of Central Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Cabinet Member for Finance, Innovation and Property, to progress the purchase of property for temporary accommodation purposes as outlined in the report; and

(3)            the post implementation review report set out at Annex 2 to the report be approved.

*Referred to Council

The report provides an update on the purchase of premises for use as temporary accommodation together with the requirement for such accommodation.

Further to Minutes CB 18/25 and C 18/23, the joint report of the Director of Central Services and Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health updated the position on the purchase of premises for use as temporary accommodation and gave details of the current increasing requirement for such accommodation.  A capital plan post implementation review was presented in relation to the earlier decision together with a capital plan evaluation for the purchase of further properties for temporary accommodation.

It was noted that the purchase of temporary accommodation provided a more cost-effective alternative than nightly paid accommodation and the aspiration remained to acquire property across the Borough where possible.  Members requested that details of the management of the Council’s existing property in Tonbridge and its impact on the well-being of the community be included in the update report to the next meeting of Communities and Housing Advisory Board.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)          a sum of £1.5m be added to the Capital Plan for the purchase of property for temporary accommodation purposes funded in large part, if not in full, from the two reserves detailed at paragraph 1.3.3 of the report;

(2)          delegated authority be granted to the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health and Director of Central Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Cabinet Member for Finance, Innovation and Property, to progress the purchase of property for temporary accommodation purposes as outlined in the report; and

(3)          the post implementation review report set out at Annex 2 to the report be approved.

*Referred to Cabinet