URL: https://reigate-banstead.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1229

Decision Maker: Executive

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: Approval to participate in Round 4 including expenditure of grant allocation and releasing of funds from the Community Asset Transfer fund to enable the purchase and refurbishment of the required properties.

Content: Approval to participate in Round 4 including expenditure of grant allocation and releasing of funds from the Community Asset Transfer fund to enable the purchase and refurbishment of the required properties. RESOLVED – that Executive approve that:   The Chief Finance Officer be authorised to:   a)    Agree to and sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to secure grant funding from the Local Authority Housing Fund Round 4 and comply with the associated terms.   b)    The Head of Housing be authorised in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Strategic Head of Legal & Governance, Executive Member for Finance, Assets & Governance, and Executive Member for Housing & Support, to:   (i)             Use the Local Authority Housing Fund (grant funding) of £1.313m to purchase and refurbish up to 6 properties, to be retained in the Council’s ownership, for use as temporary accommodation. (ii)           Release up to £1.641m from Council’s Community Asset Transfer Fund as match funding when purchasing the 6 properties.   c) The Head of Housing be authorised in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Strategic Head of Legal & Governance, Executive Member for Finance, Assets & Governance, and Executive Member for Housing & Support, to:   (i)             Use further Local Authority Housing Fund (grant funding) of £0.844m to purchase and refurbish a further 4 properties in addition to those stated in b), to be retained in the Council’s ownership, for use as temporary accommodation. (ii)           Release a further £1.112m from Council’s Community Asset Transfer Fund as match funding when purchasing a further 4 properties. (iii)         The authorisations in c) i and c) ii will take effect only upon MHCLG’s approval of the Council’s supplementary bid to increase property provision under the LAHF Round 4 programme. (iv)         Obtain any necessary surveys, planning consents, quotes and tenders as required to carry out refurbishment work; and (v)           Appoint and enter contracts as required with, consultants, suppliers and builders. (vi)         Reallocate any underspent Local Authority Housing Fund Round 4 grant into the Council’s existing Emergency Accommodation/Temporary Accommodation subject to MHCLG consent.  (vii)        Apply for and allocate additional third-party grant funding which may become available during the project towards property enhancements.   d)    Subject to MHCLG consent, the continued availability of grant funding at current levels, successful bidding outcomes, and sufficient internal resourcing, release further capital funding as required to deliver further additional properties under the LAHF Round 4 programme.   Executive agreed an additional Recommendation published in the report to Forward to Council Recommendation e):   e)    The Head of Housing be authorised in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Strategic Head of Legal & Governance, Executive Member for Finance, Assets & Governance, and Executive Member for Housing & Support, to:   (i)             Use Local Authority Housing Fund (grant funding) of up to £2.157m to purchase and refurbish up to a total of 10 properties for use as temporary accommodation. (ii)           Release up to £2.754m from Council’s Community Asset Transfer Fund to purchase up to 10 properties.

Date of Decision: March 17, 2026