Issue - meetings

To receive a verbal update on the Local Authority Housing Fund Round 2, property acquisitions and the Bridging Hotel closure.

The Committee received a verbal update on the Local Authority Housing Fund, Property acquisition and bridging hotel closure from the Housing Strategy and Policy Manager.

A summary was given on progress made in both Round one and Round Two of the LAHF programme. During Round one, the Council was allocated funding for purchase of 11 properties to house Afghan and Ukrainian refugees by the end of the calendar year. To date eight properties were purchased, with more property viewings arranged to meet this target. During Round two of this programme, the Council was allocated funding for the purchase of three resettlement properties for Afghan refugees, and four temporary accommodations to support the Council’s temporary accommodation needs.

Following  the Home Office’s closure of the Bridging hotel for Afghan families on 16 August 2023, there were 25 households in residence at the hotel. The Council had accepted relief duty of 22 households. 16 families housed in temporary accommodation at Longford Estate, three families went directly to properties acquired by the Local Authority Housing Fund and three single people households were placed in B&B accommodation.

The Committee resolved to note the verbal update and agreed a written note of the update be circulated to Committee members.