Issue - meetings

Executive Summary

North Norfolk District Council has been offered funding for 2026/27 in Round 4 of the Government’s Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF). This report sets out proposals to accept the grant offered (£611k) or, if successful in our bid, at the higher level of £871k to help purchase a further four or six units of Temporary Accommodation for homeless households.

Options considered

-        To accept the LAHF grant to help fund (dependent on level of grant secured) purchase of four or six homes for use as temporary accommodation, with the Council providing the match funding and staffing resources to undertake the purchases and necessary repairs to the properties by April 2027.

-        To not accept the LAHF grant funding offered

Consultation(s)

Portfolio Holder for Housing and Peoples’ Services.

Officers in Housing Options, Estates and Property Services

Recommendations

It is recommended that Cabinet:

-      Agree to accept the £871,000 of Local Authority Housing Fund grant if successful in our higher bid,  or (if not successful with the higher bid)

-      Agree to accept the £611,000 of Local Authority Housing Fund grant (as per the original offer)

-      Use the LAHF grant to part fund the purchase of four or six (dependent on level of grant secured) further units of temporary accommodation

-      Give delegated authority to the Section 151 Officer [or other member of Corporate Leadership Team] in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Peoples’ Services, to agree the actual purchases of the properties (within the identified budget limits).

Reasons for recommendations

To seek approval for the Council to accept the LAHF grant and use the grant to help acquire further homes to use as temporary accommodation

Background papers

Overview and Scrutiny January 2025 - Analysis of the performance of the Council’s Temporary Accommodation properties 2024/25

Cabinet March 2025 - Local Authority Housing Fund Round 3 - Purchase of Temporary Accommodation

Cabinet October 2023 – Round 2 Local Authority Housing Fund

Cabinet June 2023 - Purchase of Temporary Accommodation Unit

Cabinet March 2023 – LAHF Round 1 Opportunity

Cabinet November 2022 - Purchase of Temporary Accommodation Unit

Wards affected

Districtwide

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr. Jill Boyle, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Peoples’ Services

Contact Officer

Nicky Debbage, Housing Strategy & Delivery Manager, nicky.debbage@north-norfolk.gov.uk