Issue - meetings

To consider the principle of acquiring the flexible use of 24 units of accommodation at Defoe Court, East Street, Epsom as additional in-borough Temporary Accommodation, subject to negotiation with Sanctuary Housing Association

The Committee agreed:

(1)          That the Council should acquire the use of 24 additional units at Defoe Court, 87 East Street from Sanctuary Housing Association for use as temporary accommodation subject to negotiation and the identification of savings in the annual cost of nightly paid emergency temporary accommodation;

(2)          That the method of acquiring the units and negotiating the cost including the management of the units and any service charge be delegated to the Head of Housing and Community in consultation with the Chairman of the Strategy and Resources Committee and the Section 151 Officer, Head of Property and Regeneration and the Chief Legal Officer.

The Committee received and considered a report regarding the principle of acquiring the use of 24 units of accommodation at Defoe Court, East Street, Epsom as additional in-borough temporary accommodation.

The report highlighted that, as expenditure on these units was being incurred to discharge the Council’s statutory homelessness duties, there would be no impact on the Council’s VAT position.

The acquisition of these units would reduce the reliance on out-of-borough nightly paid accommodation and could result in further direct reductions in temporary accommodation costs.

Accordingly, the Committee agreed:

(1)          That the Council should acquire the use of 24 additional units at Defoe Court, 87 East Street from Sanctuary Housing Association for use as temporary accommodation subject to negotiation and the identification of savings in the annual cost of nightly paid emergency temporary accommodation;

(2)          That the method of acquiring the units and negotiating the cost including the management of the units and any service charge be delegated to the Head of Housing and Community in consultation with the Chairman of the Strategy and Resources Committee and the Section 151 Officer, Head of Property and Regeneration and the Chief Legal Officer.