URL: https://reigate-banstead.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1236

Decision Maker: Head of Housing and Intervention

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: Background On 17 March 2026, Executive gave its approval for us to engage in MHCLG’s Round Four grant funding programme, known as the Local Authority Housing Fund R4 (LAHF R4). This involves purchasing ten street properties and undertaking the necessary refurbishment, and letting six of these properties as Temporary Accommodation, and four as resettlement properties for specified refugee cohorts from Afghanistan. Consultation The Head of Housing and Intervention is authorised further to consultation (issued on the 27.3.26) with the: • Chief Finance Officer, • Strategic Head of Legal & Governance, • Executive Member for Finance, Assets & Governance • 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. (iii) 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. (iv) Release a further £1.112m from Council’s Community Asset Transfer Fund as match funding when purchasing a further 4 properties. (v) 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. (vi) Obtain any necessary surveys, planning consents, quotes and tenders as required to carry out refurbishment work; and (vii) Appoint and enter contracts as required with, consultants, suppliers and builders. (viii) Reallocate any underspent Local Authority Housing Fund Round 4 grant into the Council’s existing Emergency Accommodation/Temporary Accommodation subject to MHCLG consent. (ix) Apply for and allocate additional third-party grant funding which may become available during the project towards property enhancements. (x) 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. (xi) Obtain any necessary surveys, planning consents, quotes and tenders as required to carry out refurbishment work (xii) Appoint and enter contracts as required with, consultants, suppliers and builders. Consultation with the above has taken place on items (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (ix), (xi), (xii). Reason for Decision These actions are required to allow RBBC to progress and facilitate all actions required with this programme of purchases and refurbishments, including, but not limited to taking up capital and revenue grant funding being offered by MHCLG for the LAHF R4 programme, appointing relevant consultants, surveyors, and contractors and purchasing properties. Executive approval for this project was granted in March 2026. As with previous rounds, we propose notifying the Officers/PHs of the property details and proposed expenditure for information prior to exchange of contracts on each property.

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Date of Decision: April 8, 2026