Issue - meetings

The Council had before it the recommendations of the Executive following a review of the existing temporary accommodation schemes which had identified the need for urgent and significant investment to refurbish the accommodation to an acceptable standard.  Included in the recommendations was the acquisition and conversion of a Woking town centre site to use as temporary accommodation, improvement in the standards of the existing temporary accommodation and disposal of a property formerly used as temporary accommodation.

RESOLVED

That (i)    the acquisition and conversion of a Woking town centre site for the use as temporary accommodation be approved for a total project cost of circa £4,600,000;

          (ii)   the proposal to improve the housing standards of the Council’s current temporary accommodation properties, at a total cost of circa £152,000, be approved to ensure that the provision is fit for purpose;

          (iii) the vacant property at 37 St Johns Road (formerly used as temporary accommodation) be disposed of and the capital receipt re-invested towards implementing recommendations (i) and (ii) above;

          (iv) in the event that the acquisition of the identified site falls through, the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing Services and the Portfolio Holder for Asset Management, be authorised to identify and proceed with the purchase of an alternative town centre site for use as temporary accommodation, providing the financial business case is broadly similar; and

          (v)   the Director of Housing be authorised to take all necessary actions to achieve the outcomes referred to in (i) – (iv) above.

Reporting Person – Louise Strongitharm

Councillor D Harlow, Portfolio Holder for Housing Services, introduced the report and informed the Executive that a review had been undertaken of the Council’s current temporary accommodation schemes which had identified that urgent and significant investment was required to refurbish the accommodation to an acceptable standard.  The Portfolio Holder explained that the report sought approval of the Executive to recommend to Council the acquisition and conversion of a Woking town centre site for use as temporary accommodation.  In addition, the report also recommended to Council a proposal to improve the housing standards of the Council’s current temporary accommodation properties and the disposal of 37 St John’s Road which had formerly been used as temporary accommodation.

Following a question regarding the estimated valuation of 37 St John’s Road, it was noted that Officers would be expected to obtain best value for the site.  Regarding the proposal to undertake refurbishment of Claremont Avenue temporary accommodation properties rather than to rebuild, the Portfolio Holder advised that the refurbished accommodation would offer vital short to medium term availability.  The Executive was informed that a full strategic review of the Council’s temporary accommodation would be undertaken within two years of the new town centre scheme, subject to approval of the proposed acquisition.

The Chairman highlighted an amendment to recommendation (iv) in order to make clear that both the Portfolio Holder for Housing Services and the Portfolio Holder for Asset Management would be consulted by the Director of Housing if it was necessary to proceed with the purchase of an alternative town centre site for use as temporary accommodation in the event that the acquisition of the identified site fell through.

REcommendED to Council

That  (i)    the acquisition and conversion of a Woking town centre site for the use as temporary accommodation be approved for a total project cost of circa £4,600,000;

          (ii)   the proposal to improve the housing standards of the Council’s current temporary accommodation properties, at a total cost of circa £152,000, be approved to ensure that the provision is fit for purpose;

          (iii)  the vacant property at 37 St Johns Road (formerly used as temporary accommodation) be disposed of and the capital receipt re-invested towards implementing recommendations (i) and (ii) above;

          (iv)  in the event that the acquisition of the identified site falls through, the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing Services and the Portfolio Holder for Asset Management, be authorised to identify and proceed with the purchase of an alternative town centre site for use as temporary accommodation, providing the financial business case is broadly similar; and

          (v)   the Director of Housing be authorised to take all necessary actions to achieve the outcomes referred to in (i) – (iv) above.

Reason:   To enable the Council to provide good quality, local short-term accommodation to households facing homelessness in the Borough.