Executive and Officer Decisions

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.

Action Homeless has developed a scheme proposal to meet specific homeless needs identified in Leicester City Council’s (LCC’s) Strategic Gap Analysis for the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC), Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme’s (SHAP) fund.

Leicester City Council submitted a bid to DLUHC on behalf of Action Homeless in November 2023 for £1,525k. As Action Homeless is not classed as a Registered Provider (RP), DLUHC has confirmed that that the grant must be paid through a local authority acting as an Accountable Body; this report seeks approval to act as accountable body.

To approve: 

a) That the Council will act as the Accountable Body for £665k of Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) capital grant funding and £860k of DLUHC revenue grant funding, to enable Action Homeless to deliver its proposed scheme.

b) That £665k is added as an immediate start to the 2024/25 capital programme.

c) That authorisation is delegated to officers to accept and enter a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and adhere to the grant determination letter (when received with the first payment) with DLUHC.

d) Authorisation is delegated to officers to enter a funding contract with Action Homeless, to, but not limited to, mirror the requirements of the MOU.

e) To acknowledge DLUHC’s MOU conditions and the associated risks.

To recommend approval for the acquisition of Citygate House, St Margaret’s Way for the sum as set out in the confidential Appendix B attached, plus £150k for professional fees and surveys.  This will be financed using a combination of Right to Buy Receipts, Allowable Debt and Prudential Borrowing, from existing budgets held within the HRA Capital Programme.

Approval of the acquisition of Citygate House as agreed in the confidential Appendix B plus £150k for professional fees and surveys.