Decision details

The council has previously successfully bid for and received £3m in LAHF funding to deliver 27 new homes.  DLUCH has since contacted the Council to explore whether it could increase the delivery of temporary accommodation as per the objectives of LAHF round 2; the Council has identified that it could deliver 8 more units within the terms of the agreement.

This report seeks approval for the use of £1.928m to secure 8 affordable housing units across the city, funded from £867k of grant (Local Authority Housing Fund) and £1.061m of HRA borrowing. This will be used to meet the needs specified in the grant conditions, notably to alleviate pressures on homelessness services.

To approve:

i)          the use of £1.928mm, to secure 8 affordable housing units across the city to meet the objectives outlined in the Decision report;

ii)         the addition of £1.928mm to the 2023/24 HRA capital programme financed from £876k of LAHF grant and £1.061m of prudential borrowing.

To enable LCC to secure £876k of grant funding towards the acquisition of 8 new council homes; and to enable the total costs related to these acquisitions to be approved expenditure within the Housing Capital Programme.

The Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) offered a number of local authorities grant funding via the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) Rounds 1 and 2, towards the cost of providing sustainable housing for those unable to secure their own accommodation and who meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the LAHF prospectus.

LCC was offered and accepted an additional £867k of LAHF funds towards the costs of providing 8 new Affordable Housing dwellings to meet the housing needs of the targeted households.  LCC has been required to contribute £1.061m of its own funds towards the costs of acquiring these 8 new homes and ensuring their readiness to let at LCC’s Letting Standard and this has been financed via borrowing within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).