Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:
(1) Agree to enter into an agreement with the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to receive £1,493,250 funding, to enable the purchase of one resettlement home for an Afghan family on the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and five properties for use as temporary accommodation for homeless households in Epsom & Ewell.
(2) Approve an allocation of £600,000 from Section 106 commuted sums held by the Council to ensure sufficient funding is available for the purchase of six properties
(3) Authorise the Council to sign the Memo of Understanding attached as Appendix 1 to the report.
(4) Nominate and authorise the Director of Environment, Housing and Regeneration to purchase six properties at a cost of no more than £2.1m, in consultation with the Council’s Chief Finance and Chief Legal Officers. Those properties are to meet the criteria identified within the Memo of Understanding entered into with the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
(5) Nominate and authorise the Director of Environment, Housing and Regeneration to transfer a payment of up to £350,000 for the purchase of the ACRS unit to Town & Country Housing (TCH) on the terms set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report.
(6) Nominate and Authorise the Director of Environment, Housing and Regeneration to negotiate and sign the Grant Agreement (either as attached as Appendix 2 to the report or as amended) further to consultation with the Council’s Chief Finance and Chief Legal Officers.