Agenda item - HRA Stock Review: Delivering Temporary Accommodation - Oxford Street

Report of Executive Director Neighbourhoods, Communities and Housing (copy attached).

(1)      That the range of future options for this HRA owned former operational property at 20-22 Oxford Street set out in sections 3 and 4 of the report be noted.

(2)      That it is agreed to approve the preferred option 5, that the Council refurbishes and converts this property into 12 accessible studios and flats for use as Temporary Accommodation for people to whom the council have a duty to accommodate.

(3)    That it is noted that a capital budget of £1.186 million for option 5 is included in the Housing Revenue Account Budget and Investment Programme 2017/18 and Medium Term Financial Strategy report, also being reported to this committee.

57.1   The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing which explained that at its meeting on 11 November 2015, the Housing & New Homes Committee considered a range of high level future options for this Housing Revenue Account (HRA) owned former Oxford Street housing office.  Members agreed that a further, fully costed report be brought back to the committee for consideration, focussing on options which would make best use of the asset, meet housing needs in the city and/or generate a financial return for the Council, whether revenue or capital.  Five options were now outlined in the report.  The recommended option was Option 5 (Conversion by the council into Temporary Accommodation, which also provided significant savings for the General Fund) because it provided a high financial return for the council and best met the council’s strategic objectives.  The report was presented by the Housing Stock Review Manager who explained that Option 5 could achieve a general fund saving of up to £0.132m a year.      

57.2    Councillor Mears stated she was pleased to see the report. The Oxford Street property was closed in 2014 and she considered it disgraceful that it had not been maintained and had been allowed to fall into disrepair.  Lessons needed to be learnt from this matter and an HRA asset should never again be allowed to fall into disrepair. Councillor Mears  questioned the costings which appeared expensive and wanted it noted that this was an HRA asset and should be retained by the HRA.

57.3    Councillor Moonan stated that this was an empty property that would provide people with homes. She agreed that the council did not want to see buildings fall into disrepair. Councillor Moonan had been drawn to the option that would help rough sleepers but noted that this was not an ideal location for that use.  Councillor Moonan asked if there were other locations that were more appropriate. The Housing Stock Review Manager explained that the Chair had asked officers to look at alternative sites. A feasibility report had been produced by an architect which would be submitted to the Members’ Regeneration Board for consideration.

57.4    Councillor Moonan asked if the council would be using the government grant of around £0.560m and asked for confirmation that that grant would not be lost.  The Housing Stock Review Manager replied that the council was working with the HCA on the timing issue.  The HCA were committed to the Homelessness Change Fund and Brighton and Hove’s needs in this area.   Discussions were ongoing.

 57.5   Councillor Gibson found the comments to Councillor Moonan reassuring, however one of his main concerns was that the council had a grant from the government and there was a risk that the council might lose it. He was also very concerned about the potential reputational damage if the council ended up having to forego the grant. He stressed that Option 5 was very appealing to him as it would address the needs of 12 people. There was a shortage of accommodation for homeless people and there was an average wait of 10 months. 103 people were on the waiting list for beds.  Related to that issue he was concerned that the report on Housing First was missed from this agenda.  The council needed to prioritise making progress on making this provision as more and more people were sleeping rough. 

57.6    Councillor Gibson thought the proposed scheme was good.  He noted that there would be intensive housing support.  He asked what this would entail for that client group. The Head of Housing Strategy Property & Investment explained that the committee had approved the rough sleepers’ strategy.  It was a priority to move people on from hostels.  The Homeless Change Fund had never been linked to Oxford Street. The preferred option for Oxford Street was based on the council’s budget strategy.  Temporary accommodation did require more high level support than general needs accommodation. The preferred option would be deemed a general needs facility not a high complex needs 24 hour care.  These were not overly vulnerable clients.  The Housing Stock Review Manager stated that tenants would receive regular housing management visits and there would be a dedicated Anti-Social Behaviour Officer.

57.7    RESOLVED:-

(1)      That the range of future options for this HRA owned former operational property at 20-22 Oxford Street set out in sections 3 and 4 of the report be noted.

(2)      That it is agreed to approve the preferred option 5, that the Council refurbishes and converts this property into 12 accessible studios and flats for use as Temporary Accommodation for people to whom the council have a duty to accommodate.

(3)    That it is noted that a capital budget of £1.186 million for option 5 is included in the Housing Revenue Account Budget and Investment Programme 2017/18 and Medium Term Financial Strategy report, also being reported to this committee.