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Issue - meetings
Update on the Social Lettings Agency
Meeting: 07/10/2019 - Cabinet (Item 202)
202 Update on the Social Lettings Agency PDF 188 KB
Decision:
1. That Cabinet supports the revised business case for the Social Lettings Agency and the next steps to implement the new model
2. Cabinet approves the investment strategy for the Social Lettings Agency
3. To continue to explore options to generate additional income through the social lettings agency, including providing management services to other local authorities
4. To approve capital funding of £2,575,000 for additional investment in temporary accommodation
Minutes:
The Assistant Director, Housing and Built Environment submitted a report outlining the revised business case for the Social Lettings Agency.
The report was presented by the Assistant Director and the Strategic Housing and Projects Manager.
The Social Lettings Agency (SLA) was set up with the primary purpose of helping to improve access to good quality, well managed, accommodation in the private rented sector. Households are accommodated in properties leased by the council from private landlords.
The revised model for the SLA has 3 main elements; expanding the private sector leasing scheme as an alternative to emergency accommodation, property management services for council-owned temporary accommodation and property management services for properties owned by Hastings Housing Company.
Councillor Batsford proposed approval of the recommendations, seconded by Councillor Fitzgerald.
The Chair agreed to vote on each recommendation separately, as shown in the resolution below.
RESOLVED
1. That Cabinet supports the revised business case for the Social Lettings Agency and the next steps to implement the new model (by 7 for, to 2 against).
2. Cabinet approves the investment strategy for the Social Lettings Agency (by 7 for, to 2 against).
3. To continue to explore options to generate additional income through the social lettings agency, including providing management services to other local authorities (by 7 for, to 2 against).
4. To approve capital funding of £2,575,000 for additional investment in temporary accommodation (unanimously).
Reasons for the decision:
The purpose of the SLA is to improve access to good quality, well managed accommodation in the private rented sector for homeless households. The council needed to review the business case for the SLA, following changes to government funding for temporary accommodation and revised growth forecasts for the councils Housing Company.
Under the new model, the existing private sector leasing scheme will be expanded, to help reduce the council’s use of emergency accommodation. The SLA will continue to provide management services for council-owned temporary accommodation. The SLA will also manage one of the properties owned by Hastings Housing Company, with the expectation that this role will be expanded in the future, as and when the company acquires more properties.
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